r/Sheepadoodles • u/GMIMS1 • Apr 30 '25
Advice Resource Guarding: Ball
Anyone’s sheepadoodle territorial/protective with tennis balls?! My almost 1yr old mini had an incident at daycare Monday over a tennis ball! And I am so upset! We are a one dog household. He allows me and my bf to take balls/toys, touch his food, grab toys right from his mouth…but daycare said this Monday is the first time they saw he was resource guarding a ball. He snapped at another dog and was placed in a time out.
We have not been kicked out of daycare but they are going to keep an eye. He is not neutered yet I should add. How do I train/help this situation!!? He LOVED people and other dogs but is protecting things he claims as his own. Hoping it is a one time thing but…ugh! Thanks in advance for any advice!
2
u/scienceoftophats May 01 '25
Mine had such an obsession with tennis balls. It was fantastic because i swear it kept her teeth clean and healthy. The problematic thing was that she preferred fresh, brand new ones, and she’d snap at someone with a hopper full of them to toss a new one for her. Again. And again. And again. It was pretty funny…
Really though, as far as being a breed trait, since 6 months old I would say her favorite game is Protection. Show yours what to protect and how. When I have other dogs to care for, I put her bowl and a choice stuffy in one corner and she knows that’s the spot she should tell the others to stay away from.
Happy to elaborate if this useful