Felix insecure?

[atghylin]

Over the last month Felix has been acting strange. He's only 16 months old right now and I thought that he was being a typical adolensent and trying to establish dominence over Kusac. But Mom brought him back to me this morning and told me about his behavior over the last couple of days. For the most part he had a blast with Mom's Shitz tzu, Sammy and Lab, Abby. Then she said he did something unsual for him. He snapped at her fingers when she tried to give him a treat after dinner. :hmmmm: He's been snapping at Kusac when it comes to food and toys too. He's also jumped up and lightly nipped at my fingers as I'm walking through the house a few times. Mom and I both corrected him imediately each time. But I'm wondering if this recent change is because he knows something is up. Rich hasn't been home for longer then 2 days at a time for the last month and I'm packing like crazy (I haven't packed anything that belongs to him... that'll be one of the last set of things I pack). Is he feeling a little insecure or is this a dominence issue? What's the best way to reassure him if he is insecure?

Thanks,
Amanda

[DogPaddle]

Presumably once your move is complete things should settle down, until then maybe just try to behave as normal and when Felix is not acting up, give him a little extra attention.

[StarFox]

Maybe he is acting up because your moving. If your stressed, excited or anxious he will feel that. Try to explain it too him, seriously, just talk to him and tell him that your moving. It sounds stupid but I do it all the time with Zebra. :oops:

[imported_Cassie]

Does this behavior happen only when he is around the other dogs?? if so this is pretty normal. Each one of my dogs had to be taught proper manners..when you have 6 dogs they have to learn manners!
Felix may also sense the aniexty you are experiencing with moving as well. I have found with dogs that are snappy when it comes to food its best to always use the nothing is free policy...I use this with all of my dogs, and believe me when I first took in each one of my dogs they all were snappy when it came to getting treats...almost a competition for food (my dogs where all adolescents when I adopted them) Felix has to realize that grabbing for a treat is not going to get the treat....I would also teach Felix "off" and "take it" and sit before getting a treat...you can also teach your dog "gentle" which will teach him to relax his jaw mucles when he sees food. I have had many times when I first adopted my new dogs when I had been walking along with my hands down by my side and the dogs have "thought" there may be a treat lurking in my hand :lol: and they have grabbed for my hands....that was before I taught them manners! :wink:
Not only does the nothing in free policy help your dog gain confidence....it also teaches him that he must do some thing before getting a treat. A dog which is sitting down waiting for you to give him a treat is less likely to try to grab it from you or steal it.
Some times when our dogs are around a few other dogs they can loose all manners and go into competition mode...survival of the fittest :lol: