Big Paws Only Dog Forums

So glad things are working out.  Please remind your mom, if things end up not working out, that she can turn the dog into a rescue who might be able to find a home that the dog is more comfortable.  I'm sure your mom is an excellent pet owner but sometimes things just don't work out for whatever reason.  Glad to hear things are good but think Rescue before you think putting the dog down,
jeri

Oh ywa, here's a great article.  Don't know if you have an information library here but it's a good article
http://www.danes.org.uk/choc.htm
jeri

Yes, think you're a 100% right.  The amount of theobromine per kilograms doesn't equate to a 150 pound dog eating four chocolate cookies.  Being the worry wart I am, I still called the vet and asked what symptoms to look for if he had an adverse reaction.  He resently has been diagnosed with food allergies and is on atterax to help so I didn't know if he would react weird to a small amount of chocolate.  She said to watch for him puking, or getting yancy and his pulse should be around 90.  Theobromine is like caffine so if it has ill effects the heart rat will go up.  Thus causing the yancy behavior.  Well 4 hours after he consumed the 20 cookies he started acting yancy so I wanted to check his pulse.  My hubbie is a doc  and I was a respiratory therapist so we're both pretty comfortable with taking pulses. Well we flunked BIG TIME

Oh Yeah, There was left over steak and that humilated face turned into the most happy face in the world.  Plus he got a 5 mile hike with ten friends for New Years Day.  He was one happy camper, lol, jeri

As you can tell by the look on his face it says "there better be a pretty good treat waiting for me after this humiliation, lol"

So sorry you're going through this.  I know from experience.  Modoc was never protective until a Rottie attacked Nat at two years of age.  His behavior of protection became intense, which has limited his life exposure substantially.  You need to nip this in the bud ASAP.  You need to start him on NILF right away so he knows you're the alpha and he does not need to protect you.
For whatever reason he has determined he's the pack leader not you.  Dogs don't want to be the pack leaders they are happy following but right now he thinks he's in charge and that has to come to an abrupt end so he will be able to have a fun social life with you and your outings that you want to include him in.  He's still young and very trainable.  I would call a behaviorist right away so they can guide you in the direction that you need to go to re establish your dominance.  The behaviorist has helped us quite a bit with curbing Modoc's protective behavior.  He loves anyone with two legs and is not threatened for us but if it has four legs he thinks he needs to protect.  I don't think a training class will change his behavior.  He needs a psychological change in who is the boss.
Good luck,
jeri

I'm so very sorry for your loss.  Please accept my heart felt condolences,
jeri