NORTHAMPTON - behavioural support needed!
Ebony has been in foster with Sue in Northampton since she arrived with us from Ireland a week ago. She is a lovely, but rather wild 7/8 month old retriever x girl and although she and Sue's Flattie Bella play well, Ebi is very food possessive towards Bella (not at all with humans though).
If there is food around (treat-training particularly - but even just unpacking the groceries), Ebi will see-off Bella. She doesn't make contact, but it's not much fun for Bella who isn't sure what's causing the dog she loves playing with to suddenly turn on her. It is, of course, very early days, and issues like this very often resolve in time, but we could do with some help in the meantime..
Ebi also really bolts her food, too, and we think this might be the result of Ebi having been kept with siblings in grim conditions and having to fight for any available food.
We have already recommended a combination of management (feed + train separately/don't have the two together if there is food around) and conditioning (e.g. treat both dogs at a distance in a controlled situation - on lead or either side of a child gate - moving the dogs far enough apart for it to not provoke a reaction then slowly bringing closer). But of course it is quite difficult in a family situation to always avoid triggers. Ebi will even guard the kitchen if food is being prepared.
But it would be a huge help to have an expert assess the situation for us and perhaps make some other suggestions too.
Any recommendations for someone in the area who could help? (Hopefully someone that might be willing to give us a bit of a discount too if possible!).
If you know someone who could help, please email jem@blackretrieverx.co.uk with "Ebi support" in the subject line.
Thank you!