Restless spirit with a super sniffer!

[ILuvMyHounds]

My adorable dachshund has a super sniffer and an affinity to, "find it"! If you've read any of my postings, you know he's a serious resource guarder. I learned quite by accident that he enjoyed using his sense of smell one day when I unknowingly dropped a small treat in the lawn while we were playing with his fuzzy toy, which he dropped like a lead balloon once he caught a whiff of a goody in the tall grass!

Sometimes before heading outside, I place treats (a little larger than a pea) in the lawn so when we go out I can issue the "find it" command; which he loves, loves to do! Even if I only put out 4-6 treats, he will look in earnest for them and usually when he has found the majority of them, he looks back to me for a visual guide to where others may be, just in case he missed one! I sure hope he knows I placed them there and is not thinking to himself, "Wow, she's really got a great nose!"

So, my question is... am I missing an opportunity to use this thing he loves to do in a way that will help rehab his resource and/or aggression issues, other than how we are presently using it as a mental stimulus only?

Thoughts most appreciated!

[Teresa]

This is a great game and seems like using for mental stimulation may be the best application for him. Using this "find it" command around other triggers may increase the likelihood of aggressive response from him since he has food aggression.

Mental stimulation is also a way to relieve restless spirit in dogs, so you are indirectly helping his issues by giving him an activity that challenges him and that he likes to do.

Perhaps you can go a step further and teach him to find objects for you (like you keys etc,) with food as a reward. (also mental stimulation)

[ILuvMyHounds]

Thanks again for offering your input, Teresa!

You made such a valid point about other triggers and I wanted to stress that my only goal is to see him succeed. Everything I do with my dog is in the most controlled environment that I can provide for him and with the least amount of distractions as possible. Since his baggage could practically fill the entire cargo area of a 747, when we work on a major behavioral issue such as his resource guarding, it is the only behavior addressed during the entire session. I am careful not to do anything that will cause him any emotional harm, nor do I introduce any additional stimulus that might trigger or provoke and unwanted response. I do my very best and end the sessions based on his physical responses, making sure to do so when he is feeling his best, as it were.

As I mentioned, upon discovering his enjoyment for sniffing out the treats, I go outside and place the treats in various locations and then I bring him out. I call his name and issue the command "find it", at which point his nose goes straight to the ground and he is in total search mode. I say nothing else and usually stay on or near the porch while he is scouring the yard. When he no longer sniffs out treats with ease, he stops and looks back to me for guidance, at which time I only point in the general direction of the treats he might have missed, which he will head off in that direction and begin or research the area, otherwise I tell him "that's it" and he now knows that he has successfully completed his task. I issue the "come" command and as soon as he returns to me, I heavily praise him for the fine work he has done.

I believe that I am performing this in a manner that will not provoke any unwanted responses. I let him know what I want him to do, allow him to accomplish the task on his own, offer guidance when he indicates to me he needs it, let him know when he has completed his task and praise him for being successful. I set up the area ahead of time, I am never invading his personal space while he is "searching" and there are no other pack members or people present during this time.

Locating the treats has probably been the most beneficial thing he has discovered (learned) so far. It's like the light bulb finally came on in his little noggin' once he realized that he could seek and receive good guidance from his leader! I am regularly witnessing him performing this behavior, where he looks to me first before reacting negatively to the situation. He is learning that he can TRUST again! Woo Hoo, what a relief! I totally owe this change in him to the "find it" game.

I'll work on incorporating items and see how it goes, in the mean time, if you see that I am mismanaging this game in anyway, please advise me!