Resource Guarding in Dogs

How do you feel when someone leans or sits on your new car? Mercy! You’ve worked hard to pay for that shiny new car. Folks need to show respect, right? Now, you understand why dogs guard their new toys.

What is Resource Guarding?

Every dog possesses the need to guard objects. Guarding resources is a primitive survival instinct. You can’t survive without shelter, food and water so it behooves you to protect valuable resources.

Aggression is a learned behavior. If you threaten someone, as he approaches your food, and he retreats, you’ve learned that aggression works. The dog world lists material, territorial, protective, possessive and sex-related aggression as different types of aggression, but when you peel back the layers, the cause is usually due to guarding babies, territory or mates. So I lump these terms into resource guarding.

What Does Resource Guarding Look Like?

Dogs will warn before biting. It’s up to us to notice the telltale signs. As another dog or person approaches, most dogs will:

Freeze or stiffen their bodies
Lower their heads over their prized object
Widen their eyes with the whites showing (whale eye)

If a threat continues approaching, dogs will increase their warning by:

Making direct eye contact (“Um, this is mine!”)
Growling
Showing teeth
Snapping
Lunging
Biting

VIDEO: Resource Guarding

Stella (Mini Bull Terrier) guards an antler. Sobek (Rottweiler) is asking for it, but Stella says “No.” Sobek takes the hint and relaxes. Sobek is dealing with his frustration and Stella never becomes aggressive. Her body language told the story.

Prevention

One ounce of prevention is worth its weight in gold and this is so true for resource guarding.

Play the Trade Game

Instead of taking away a prized chew toy, play the trade game. Offer your puppy or dog a piece of hot dog for his chew toy. As he drops the chew toy, pick it up and give him a piece of hot dog. Hey, if you try to take away my cheesecake because you think I’ve had enough, I just might growl at you too! But if you give me a $100 bill for my cheesecake, then we’re cool. 🙂

Good Things Happen

Approach your dog, as he’s eating, and toss something really yummy into his food bowl. Dogs will learn to back away from their bowl so you can toss delicious chunks of roast beef or a huge scoop of canned food into their bowls. Basically, they’re learning that “approaching” does not mean you’re taking away their food, but adding to it.

RELATED: Prevent Resource Guarding

Separation is Good

For multiple dog households, separate dogs to prevent resource guarding behavior. It never fails; one dog finds the nylabone that has not been chewed on in years. Suddenly, the forgotten nylabone becomes a hot commodity. Every dogs wants to chew it right this minute. Or, you hand each dog a bully stick. They don’t want their stick. They want the bully stick being chewed by the other dog, oi vay.

Ask dogs to go in their crates and reward with a bully stick or scheduled meal. It’s best to add visual barriers (see no evil :)), such as sheets or blankets, to prevent crate guarding opportunities. Once all dogs have finished their chews or dinner, open crate doors, pick up food bowls and release dogs from crates.

Management for Dogs Already Resource Guarding

Food Bowl, Chew Toys and Food Stuffed Kongs

Practice sharing games and teach the trade cue. I promise, it will get better! If not, seek professional help.

That’s My Spot

Some dogs will guard their favorite napping spots, usually the sofa or bed, from dogs and even people. My general rule: If you act rude, you lose privileges. If a dog is guarding a spot on the sofa (or bed), toss a treat on the ground while saying “off.” You are not rewarding your dog for guarding; you’re rewarding him for getting off the sofa. Don’t make this a standoff because then you’re reinforcing guarding behavior. They’re getting to practice it.

RELATED: Offensive Dog Aggression

If she jumps right back on the sofa, say “off” while tossing a piece of treat on the ground. Usually, by the second or third time, your dog takes the hint and finds another spot to rest.

Plus, play sharing games. Resource guarding dogs will usually protect other prized possessions too.

That’s My Human

If someone gave me free access to car rides, cheesecakes and donuts, I would totally guard him too! Most resource guarding dogs practice this behavior while sitting in your lap. The moment you notice the first sign of resource guarding, which is usually body stiffening or hard stare, I say “off” and toss a piece of food on the ground. The person being resource guarded should put the dog on the ground.

Secondly, change your dog’s perspective by playing sharing games.

Don’t Touch My Puppies

Maternal instincts are hardwired for a reason so listen to the momma dog. If she doesn’t want other dogs around her puppies, place barriers around the whelping box to prevent visitors from gawking at her puppies.

Get Off My Lawn

Knock knock. Who’s there? Why do dogs bark when the doorbell rings? Because it announces someone is there!

Your dog is not dominant. He’s saying , “Hey mom, someone is here.” So what do you want your dog to do instead? Lay on a mat? Run to you when they hear the doorbell ring? Sit quietly at the door?

Once you figured out polite guest announcement behavior, get busy teaching with yummy treats and a clicker. Start by attaching a leash to your dog.

Teach her to sit by the door (or lay on the mat). Practice 5 times a day for a week.
Ring doorbell (or knock), then lure your dog into “sit” or “lay on mat.” Continue to practice daily for a week.
Ring doorbell (or knock) and wait for dog to offer “sit” or “lay on mat” behavior.
Now the doorbell (or knock) is the cue to sit quietly or lay on a mat.

Get Your Own Girlfriend

Does your house resemble the nightclub on a Saturday night? This happens when dogs are intact (not spayed or neutered) and a female dog goes into season (heat cycle). It seems all the boys fall madly in love with her and will defend her honor. If altering a dog is not an option, separate using multiple barriers. Give the poor boy a break and have him sleep over at a friend’s house until your girl has completed her season (about 3 weeks from start to finish).

Resource guarding is normal, but you don’t have to live with it!

Use Sharing Exercises to Prevent Resource Guarding

Does your dog guard his food, toy or you? This is normal dog behavior, but it can be corrected. Use these sharing exercises for preventing and managing resource guarding.

Note:

For multi-dog households, feed other dogs in their crates while practicing sharing exercises with your guarder. This keeps everyone safe and ensures success.
If you, a family member or other dogs have been bitten or resource guarding worsens, seek professional help.
Between meals, keep empty food bowl in a cabinet or behind a closed door. At times, some dogs will guard an empty food bowl.

Approach-Toss-Retreat Move

Before beginning the process, it’s vital to learn the move. This resembles a bowling move:

Step forward.
Crouch down as you toss the treats.
Step back.

Week One

While your dog is eating a meal (or chewing a high value treat), take one or two steps toward your dog while tossing hot dogs or cheese toward his bowl.
The yummy treat does not need to land in his bowl, just near the dog.
Back up one or two steps away from your dog, turn away and ignore him.
Repeat 2-4 times per meal at each meal time.

If your dog growls or freezes, you’ve moved too close to his food bowl. Next time, try taking only one step forward while tossing food. Or try tossing treats from across the room. Treats should land near your dog. If he scatters about, that’s okay too.

Week Two

By now, you’ve practiced your bowling moves during your dog’s meals. Now, your dog will lift his head up and away from his food bowl as you approach. Some dogs will even take a few steps away, as they’ve learned your approach means treats. Good job!

As your dog is eating a meal or chewing on a bone, approach closer. Try to approach within 2-4 feet of your dog. Toss treats and retreat. Since you’re moving closer, try tossing treats in the food bowl or at a chew toy.
Practice twice per meal or during chewing session.

If your dog begins growling as you approach, increase distance. You’ve moved too far too fast.

Week Three

Usually, this is the homestretch. Your dog has learned to step back from his bowl or move his head away from the chew toy. It’s time to add a cue.

As you approach, say “food” while tossing treats about two feet from his bowl. Try to toss treats toward the right of the dog bowl or chew toy. “Food” means “move away from your bowl.” For toys, say “give.”
Once your dog walks over to eat the treats, pick up his bowl (or toy).
After your dog eats the treats, ask him to “sit.” Once he’s sitting and there’s still food in the bowl, put the bowl down again. If all food has been eaten, pick up the bowl and place on a shelf.

Maintenance

Your dog understands that the “food” cue means you’re approaching and picking up his food bowl. To maintain this polite behavior, practice makes perfect!

Meals:
- Once or twice a week, walk over and toss something super yummy in your dog’s food bowl like a spoon full of canned food or hot dogs.
- Say the “food” cue while picking up his food bowl.

If, at anytime, your dog reverts back to guarding his bowl, start back at Week One. Setbacks happen, so don’t fret and get back to dog training. 🙂

Resource Guarding

Resource Guarding in Dogs

What is Resource Guarding?