Instructions
Make it clear to the dog that nothing is free and that everything belongs to you. You accomplish this by making a dog work for food, toys or a bone. Have the dog sit, lie down or roll over before you give it food, treats or toys.
Take away the coveted object unexpectedly. Take the food bowl away while the dog is eating. Take a toy away while he plays with it. Wait a few minutes, then return the food or toy. This teaches the dog that anything can be taken away at any time and the dog learns not to be possessive.
Teach the dog the command "leave it." Give the dog food or a toy that it wants. Then say "leave it." When the dog stops what he is doing, reward him with a treat. Over time, the dog learns this command through the positive reinforcement of the treats.
Exchange the coveted item for something the dog wants more. By replacing the item with something a dog finds more appealing, he releases or lets go of the item. While the dog is focused on the new item, you can retrieve the coveted item.
Continue to train the dog with steps 1 to 4 for as long as necessary. The length of time needed to modify a dog's behavior depends on its age, gender, health and temperament.
How to Make a Dog Not Possessive
Dogs get possessive about many things. This includes food, toys or any object they deem valuable. Experts call this behavior possessive aggression. Once a dog attaches itself to an object, it becomes defensive when the object is taken away. It barks, growls or even bites the person attempting to remove the coveted object. To stop a dog from being possessive, you need to train it to modify his behavior.