Alright, so Im searching the forum but Im not having a lot of luck finding much. Ive posted about similar topics with this. Rikku is quiet the play bitter like many people have and we are working on that. Here is the problem;

She started out having a defensive behaviour towards certain items, like rawhide, and food. We eliminated that problem and now i can take her toys from her, her food, just about everything and there is no problem, i can put my hand in her dish etc. ( we also dont give her rawhide, she has just manage to find a couple rawhide bones from our other dog, who no longer gets them anymore) needless to say there is no more problem with those items any more...

This weekend she found a spot in the grass, and when someone tried to pet her she growled at them (never happened with any one but me until now) i went up to her to see what her deal was, and there was nothing there. when i went to remove her from that spot she snapped at me and sunk her tooth in my hand pretty decently. I understood she is very young and its not her fault its most likely just natural instinct. but i have no idea why this spot in the grass caused it. i wouldnt let her return to that spot due to that reason but she persisted on going back to it, i started to give her a treat when ever she walked away from it, to show her its okay to walk leave it alone and she doesnt have to become aggressive. any ideas?

the second thing is, this has been slowly getting worse when she gets picked up she will get angry and growl and once in a while snap at you, this happens more when she is tired, im not sure how to correct this behavior?

the third question is, how can i show her its okay to sleep outside of her cage, she has it in her mind that she can only sleep when she is in her cage. so if we go somewhere and she gets tired she will refuse to sleep no matter how tired she is. we have been just taking her home when it gets to that point but it would be nice to show her its okay to sleep when we are out somewhere. she almost started to this weekend when she jumped in to a camping chair and i stood right next to her, but if i walked more then 2 feet from her she would wake up and get back down. i would walk back to the chair and she would hop back in to it and fall back asleep until i walked two feet away from her again. this isnt a big concern of mine i just figured i would throw it in here while i was asking the above questions

Not sure about the spot but could an dog in heat pee'd there?
I have an aussie who has the growl when picked up...but never broke her of it and she does not snap. I do know someone said she was "nervous" during the pick up and she feels defenseless against the other dogs when I am actively picking her up. She has never done anything but growl though. (all noise no action) But I would guess you might get a treat involved in the process some how.
Under 3 months is possibly a little young to be worried about the not sleeping in the crate. You might just have to deal with it as she probably does not feel safe with out it. However I would try a blanket or sheet next time. ie turn the sleeping spot into a den...sheet over the chair? or a spot in thecorner. Bourbon went to sleep in his crate for two months after we stopped shutting the door and it was another 3 months before we took it out of the room because he would go in for an hour or two a night at least once a week. I understand you are out and about but that could be similar. What about a portable crate? or what about a box? bed? to snuggle in that is hers so she feels safe when you walk away.
I know none of this is difinative as I have not had the issue but hope they help.

HuskyLear wrote:

Not sure about the spot but could an dog in heat pee'd there?
I have an aussie who has the growl when picked up...but never broke her of it and she does not snap. I do know someone said she was "nervous" during the pick up and she feels defenseless against the other dogs when I am actively picking her up. She has never done anything but growl though. (all noise no action) But I would guess you might get a treat involved in the process some how.
Under 3 months is possibly a little young to be worried about the not sleeping in the crate. You might just have to deal with it as she probably does not feel safe with out it. However I would try  a blanket or sheet next time. ie turn the sleeping spot into a den...sheet over the chair? or a spot in thecorner.  Bourbon went to sleep in his crate for two months after we stopped shutting the door and it was another 3 months before we took it out of the room because he would go in for an hour or two a night at least once a week. I understand you are out and about but that could be similar.  What about a portable crate? or what about a box? bed? to snuggle in that is hers so she feels safe when you walk away.
I know none of this is difinative as I have not had the issue but hope they help.

Well with her being a girl, Im not sure if a dog in heat peeing there would be an issue, i also dont know how many dogs they have even to there house (at most maybe 1-2) but most likely zero. Ill just have to pay attention when out side and if she gets like that again maybe just try to get her to leave it alone with treats and use that spot as a time to train her since it has been uncommon.

as for picking up, she never did before its been a gradual thing. once she is up and for about 5 secs she will calm down and relax and stop growling, but while trying to pick her up if she is growling and you put a hand in front of her she will snap at it on occasion. its not a full on snap like the defensive but its still much harder then her play bit.

she wont even sleep at home if shes not in her crate, and she'll go in to her crate and play and hang out but until we shut the door she doesnt like sleeping in it... i feel its in her mind that if she is let out she thinks " i have to play who knows when ill be in here next and not be able too" but we dont really keep her in her cage to where she should feel that, during the day she is never in there for more then 4 hours then three 20 min periods for eating and five hours at night for sleeping beyond that she is always aloud to be out. i dont think that is too much crate time for her? i ended up that night putting her in my car in the back seat with my a sweatshirt of mine and she went right to bed in there. so maybe when i notice when were out to keep trying that then maybe slowing breaking away from that

It sounds like a must play while out when crate door open but based on the car/sweatshirt sleeping it sounds like security thing. I think unless someone suggests something try and try until you get the right option.

alright thanks, hopefully others will chime in with some good ideas

Oh other thought on the spot are you sure that a a drink was not spilled there or small crumbs, I know you said you looked but if it was something that soaked in she might like it but you did not see it. I assume you would ahve noticed if they were ants....
Also wanted to say good for you for trying to correct things early but remember she is a puppy so she might be testing her limits or still getting used to "new" things.

Love her picture in the avatar she looks like teddy bear.

something liquid could have very well soaked in the ground, that would be imposible for me to know. its just odd that she got defensive over the area even things that she goes ape shit for, i can walk up and take away with out issue. ill just have to keep my eye out for it, and at least she does give a warning and not just go straight for.

And thank you, she is very adorable, but unfortunately she is more like the spawn of satan put in to her cute little teddy bear body lol... she almost always has that smile on though!