[Jaedyn]

My lab/shepard/retriever is 7 months old and LOVES all dogs and people. He gets along with everyone and loves to play. He’s not aggressive towards me or strangers.
The problem is we noticed he is aggressive/possessive over food and toys. Doesn’t matter if it’s even his toy, he tries to steal it and get aggressive. He is only like this towards other dogs, not humans. I can reach in his food bowl or take away a toy no problem. But at the dog park he got aggressive with a toy and another dog. Does anyone know what is causing this behavior and how to stop it? It is hard to practice as we do not have another dog in the house(just him and us) open to tips and suggestions!

 

[LeoRose]

Resource guarding is very common. This book, "Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs" Mine! - A Practical Guide To Resource Guarding In Dogs is highly recommended.

One thing I would do immediately is stop taking him to the dog park. It's too uncontrollable an environment for a resource guarder, and it's entirely possible that another dog will finish what your dog starts.

 

[Miller12]

Guarding their food or toys and other prized possessions and growling, snarling, and maybe even snapping to keep people away–is not rare among family dogs. It is even normal among a lot of puppies.

 

[pandora]

As has been mentioned resource guarding is common.
Most fights between dogs Ive seenahave come from a female being around several males or resource guarding.
The atttude of a group of dogs running about on the beach playing happily changes once a ball is introduced.

It is exactly the same reaction you see in children if one gets a sweet and the others dont.
The simple answer is either dont take him to the dogpark or dont allow the ball or other toy to be introduced.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

Completely normal theft and guarding. If it is a problem then separate the dogs when toys are present or give both the same toy (three for two dogs) and they will probable "steal" back and forth. If it gets very bad (as in blood drawing bad) then separate the dogs when toys are present or put up the toys when both dogs are out.

Feeding dogs should ALWAYS be fed in separate places out of sight of each other. Never line the bowls up in a row and expect dogs to eat next to each other. Food is a prized possession. Why set up failure?