Resource guarding is a completely normal thing for a dog to do, and typically involves them becoming protective and possibly aggressive over valuable items like food, toys, or people they care about. Though it is a completely natural instinct, if left unaddressed it can lead to problems down the line, especially if they are becoming more aggressive.
In this blog, we’ll explore resource guarding, how to train a dog to resist resource guarding, and why addressing the issue as early as possible is essential for both puppies and dogs. Whether you’re looking to prevent your dog from resource guarding or you want to help your dog overcome it, this guide provides useful tips to create a safer, more trusting relationship with your pet.
What is Resource Guarding Training?
Resource guarding training for dogs is a method of dog training designed to remove or alter a dog’s inclination to aggressively protect something of value to them when they perceive that it is under threat. This item might be a food bowl, treat, toy, bed or even a person. The training seeks to demonstrate to and convince the dog that people approaching the valued item is a good thing, which is done with positive reinforcement. Remember, never punish your dog if they struggle with the training, as this will only enforce negative connotations with the experience for them.
Visit our about us page for information about other dog training and services.
Signs of Resource Guarding
If your dog is demonstrating any of the following behaviours when a specific item of theirs is approached, they might be resource guarding:
- Whale Eye: If the dog is watching the approacher closely and showing the whites of their eyes, it means they are worried.
- Body Stiffness: A sudden and obvious stiffness in a dog might imply worry.
- Blocking: Positioning their body over the item to protect it.
- Eating or Chewing Faster: The dog might rush its meal to ensure no one can take it from them.
- Growling or Snarling: A warning that the dog feels threatened and wants the approacher to back off.
- Ears Pointed Backwards: Though ears tilted back might indicate relaxation, flattened ears against the head indicate fear.
- Lifting Lips or Bearing Teeth: Another gesture of discomfort or aggression.
- Air Snapping: The dog lunges as though to bite but does not make contact.
- Biting: Often a last resort for a dog when it perceives a threat.
- Chasing: If a dog is particularly worried, it may actively pursue others to protect its item.
How Resource Guarding Training Works
The main focus of resource guarding training is to ensure that the dog anticipates your arrival positively rather than negatively.
- To begin with, wait until your dog is interacting with or close to the item that they’re protective over, then approach slowly and cautiously with some of their favourite treats.
- Drop the treats as close to the dog/item as you can safely, then back away slowly again.
- This could be a long process, so remain patient and repeat this a couple of times a day for a few days. With each approach, try to reduce the distance between the treat and the item.
- Reinforce your dog’s calm behaviour around their resource with treats and praise.
- Introduce trade techniques, during which you give your dog a resource it values more highly in exchange for the one it is guarding.
- Never cheat or force your dog in the trade, and make sure the process is slow, non-threatening and noncoercive.
- As your dog becomes more relaxed with approaches, practice with more natural examples, such as walking near their food bowl during dinnertime.
- Continue to add more distractions and continue to reinforce calm behaviour. Never rush the process.
- Redirect any aggression to a positive action, like sitting or playing, then reward the positive action with threats.
If your dog is not responding to resource guarding training, contact us online or call us on 01524 587315 for help.
How To Deal With Resource Guarding In Puppies
Resource guarding can develop early in your dog’s life, so addressing it in puppyhood can prevent it from worsening over time, and often get rid of the behaviour entirely. Here are some key steps for how to deal with resource guarding in puppies:
- Early Positive Reinforcement: Encourage your puppy to associate people approaching their valued resources with positive experiences, like treats or praise.
- Hand feeding: Occasionally hand feed your puppy to reduce their instinct to guard food, while also teaching them that human hands near their food do not represent a threat.
- Give/Drop: Introduce a “give” or “drop” command in a trade system where your puppy willingly gives up a valued item in exchange for something even better.
- Desensitisation: Accustom your puppy to having people near their resources, slowly decreasing the distance over time and offering treats.
- Avoid Punishment: As with older dogs, never punish your puppy for resource guarding, as this can make behaviour worse.
- Supervised Playtime: If your puppy resource guards around your other pets, oversee their playtime and ensure they share and take turns with toys or treats.
- Consistency: Be patient, calm and consistent with your training, as these virtues are best for making the training a success.
Benefits Of Resource Guarding Training
Safety
Naturally, the main goal of resource guarding training is to keep you and anyone around your dog safe. Diligent training will reduce your dog’s aggressiveness which will make their interactions with people and other animals less risky. If your dog learns that giving up a valuable resource or allowing other people close to that resource results in something positive (such as receiving a treat) then they are much less likely to respond aggressively.
Strengthens Trust
By demonstrating to your dog over and again that they don’t need to be protective over their resources, you will build trust with them. This in turn will create a more cooperative and possibly even loving relationship between the two of you as your dog learns to treat you less as a threat and more as a source of comfort. They will lose that anxiety around their resources and gain a better temperament more generally.
Encourages Positive Social Behaviour
If your dog is anxious about their resources, it might cause problems in social settings or if you have other pets. By reducing their anxiety, you will help your dog adapt and de-stress in environments where they otherwise might have been uneasy and aggressive. This can then put you at ease if you are having guests over to your house or if you are thinking about getting other pets to join your household.
Get In Touch With A&T Trained Dogs For Training
At A&T Trained Dogs, we’ve created a fully-equipped, safe environment that has been optimised to support your dog’s development through professional training. With years of experience in handling resource guarding and other behavioural issues, our expert trainers are here to help you and your dog get the most out of your relationship, and can offer comprehensive guidance from beginning to end. If you think it’s time to address your dog’s resource guarding, or if you want more information on our various services, call us today at 01524 587315, or get in touch through our contact form.
