What's the best way to handle a dog growling around a bully stick?

I walked near him and he let out a little growl and I said HEY! and he growled again, not viciously but enough that I didn't like it, I don't like him thinking he owns what I give him. So I took it away. Is that the right thing to do, take it away when he acts up? He needs to know *I* (and my gf) run this sh*t. What's the best way to handle a dog growling around a bully stick?
I would have taken it away too. I would have placed one hand on the neck and taken the stick with the other.



Mine know I am the boss and they never growl at me or each other or they loose whatever they are trying to protect. I say what they can and can't have not the other way around.What's the best way to handle a dog growling around a bully stick?
No, that's really needless and pretty dumb. You gave him the treat, it's his - now let him enjoy it in peace so he doesn't feel the need to protect it.



You just make him insecure and sneaky by taking away something that you have given him.

Don't listen to the people who tell you that you should take away things from your dog to show you are boss -- how much do you need to prove that you are stronger and smarter than a dog?



Let him enjoy the bully stick in peace.



You really need to dominate a dog to feel like a big guy?

That's sick. The dog should be able to trust you and love you - not fear you. What you are doing is the best way I can think of to end up with a nasty, fearful, sneaky and aggresive dog - it's just a really dumb, senseless thing to do.What's the best way to handle a dog growling around a bully stick?
I would stop giving him bully sticks until you get his resource guarding behavior under control. The best way to get dogs to stop resource guarding is to show him that people/humans taking things away from him is actually not the end of the world, and can sometimes be a good and fun game. I usually take toys away from my dogs, add some food to it, and then give it back to them. That way, they associate taking toys away from them, as a good thing.



I agree that you should be leader and you shouldn't let your dog intimidate you with aggressive displays. However, if you just keep taking things away from him, his guarding behavior may worsen because now he may think that people coming near him means no more bully stick. As a result, he may choose to escalate his behavior.



There are some good tips on controlling resource guarding behavior here:

http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Stop-Your鈥?/a>


Only let him have the Bully stick when you or your girlfriend are holding it. When you are done holding it then it gets put away.