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@Catherine

Thanks for your responses! Here is the backstory and what I think has happened and is happening.

(these 3 are my sister’s dog by the way)

Barkley started resource guarding at 11 weeks over the water bowl. Archie and Cassie did not do anything in response but stand quietly. Over time, the items Barkley guards is growing and seemingly random. I think Barkley has learned to be “rough” and “bossy” with her. Adding to this, Barkley has never shown any play bows, he has always gone right into biting of the face or leg etc. (inappropriate). Cassie has never made a correction. Again, I think he learned this “play” is acceptable. Archie on the other hand, growled twice at him early on for “biting without warning” and inappropriate engagement. Barkley and Archie kept their distance with Archie ignoring (but tolerating) him until recently. These videos are their true interactions and sudden engagements. Recently, Archie has been splitting Cassie and Barkley on rare occasions and I think trying to “teach” him. He has actually been a little better with Cassie but… Another thing to add to this mix, Cassie will play all out with him outside but, inside she does not want to play with him at all and never has. He always ignores all her cut-off signals. Still, Cassie will not correct him or escalate the issue. We usually split them up after a minute or so if they do not do it themselves. We try to re-direct Barkley but he is relentless. So often they are separated when they can not be supervised. Cassie is the “target” more so then Archie.

Barkley at approx. 16 weeks tried this behavior with my Titan. Titan growled at him. Barkly, taken by surprise, retreated. From that day forward, Barkley has only shown appeasement to Titan when close. They do go on walks together: in fact, Titan gives Barkley the confidence he needs to go on a walks, otherwise Barkley still shows fear on walks alone (still working on that since she got him). Early this morning was the first time Barkley offered Titan a play bow- both dogs were on leash and my sister and I were in the yard, walking them together. I will use this now as a training opportunity!

I am thinking Barkley has genetic guarding and genetic fear/anxiety. His mom is a street dog from Puerto Rico and he was born on and removed from streets). He gets mental and physical stimulation, enrichment, alone time to sleep and decompress etc..

In conclusion, I think this is a learned behavior due to no corrections on Cassie’s part and no consistent other interactions from older well-socialized dogs. (He did go to puppy social class for 5 weeks starting at 10 weeks, so he had interactions with age appropriate puppies. He also was socialized by us going to Lowes, friends’ houses etc. keeping experiences neutral to positive). I think when he resource guards, that aggressive display reinforces this behavior by giving him confidence and that Cassie will not respond- that he is in control. We are still working on things so, I am hoping it will all come together as he gets older myself.

Any feedback, thoughts, ideas or questions are welcomed!

Thanks so much!