Everything is yours!

You must not allow your dog to claim you, the house, any of its contents, the garden, the car, in fact anything other than what you allow it to and even then; you take that from your dog on a casual basis to show him/her that you can! This is not being cruel; this is showing your dog that it is living in your house and that you own everything. In this way the dog can relax and will not challenge you over resources as its DNA is programmed to do. This means you will have a happy and respectful dog! 

Claiming items including toys or food (Covered in the next section!) is essential for all dogs but if you have issues, please do follow the guidance but be completely calm and take as long as you need to achieve success. You will not be bitten if you take your time! In severe cases you must have professional help!

Step up to the dog and in your mind decide that you want the resource whatever it may be. This is very important to achieve as it could save your dog’s life! Rotten animals, sticks, stones, poisoned items that your dog will not surrender could all be harmful to your dogs health! 

Step into the dogs intimate space and seek to take the resource. If it were a bed you might try to stand in it and displace the dog! If the dog surrenders it without complaint, remove the item and either return it with praise, remove it and reward with praise, food etc. Or just remove it and walk away or take over it and allow the dog to move away and then settle.   

All options depend on the behaviour of the dog at the time. I would consider rewarding with a treat, food etc. If the resource is becoming an issue and I would either remove it and replace with a less contentious item or train the issue away with repeated sessions 

If the dog resists aggressively then this is where the calm patient you steps in. Hold your ground and assess the energy and determination of the dog to continue to claim the resource. If you are scared of the dog, use a frying pan or a tray to hold in front of you to allow you to stand tall and calm! You are not going to hit the dog with the object and if you are calm and patient enough, its unlikely you will get bitten, but if the dog moves forward the only thing it will touch is the Pan or tray etc.

Do not move too quickly or you will allow the dog the excuse of attacking out of fear, anxiety or mistrust. It is easier for the dog to react as an animal and its unthinking side which is powerful is capable of dominating and defeating you. The mental side of the dog is the weak side and this is where you will win hands down, BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE CALM AND DETERMINED!

The dog cannot stay in this state forever, it is very tiring mentally for the dog to exert this type of behaviour and it will slowly calm and reassess its behaviour. It may move away and you should calmly follow until you are again in the dogs intimate space; but be very patient getting there as you don’t want to force a fight, rather you want the dog to realise that it will not win and surrenders the resource to you! 

This will happen, but you must want it more than the dog and be ultra calm and patient to get it. You may stand there for 30 minutes the first time, but the next will be less and less etc. If you aren't prepared to put in the work, don't even try or you will fail and empower the dog!

When surrendered, gently remove and walk calmly away and do not return the resource until you have considered your options, which may involve repeated training. 

See the next page for further advice about claiming food from your dog, followed by how to claim the visitors to your home!