Resource Guarding
Resource guarding happens when a dog exhibits defensive body language and subtle or overt aggressive behaviors in response to someone or another dog approaching something they consider valuable.
When faced with a perceived threat, a dog displaying resource guarding may exhibit a range of behaviors, including:
Dogs may guard a variety of things, including toys, food, spaces, household objects, other dogs, or even people. Resource guarding creates stress for both dogs and their families. Many guardians find themselves tiptoeing around their dog’s behavior, trying to prevent tense situations when their dog claims a resource they don’t want others to approach.
When faced with a perceived threat, a dog displaying resource guarding may exhibit a range of behaviors, including:
- Stopping or freezing with slow or cautious body movements.
- Intense staring or wide eyes, often fixed on the threat.
- Lip licking, tongue flicking, or other nervous facial gestures.
- Hovering near the resource, sometimes with a low head posture and focused eyes.
- Growling, baring teeth, lunging, or air snapping as escalated warnings.
Dogs may guard a variety of things, including toys, food, spaces, household objects, other dogs, or even people. Resource guarding creates stress for both dogs and their families. Many guardians find themselves tiptoeing around their dog’s behavior, trying to prevent tense situations when their dog claims a resource they don’t want others to approach.
Why dogs my dog show resource guarding beahviours?
Resource guarding has roots in evolutionary survival. A dog with primary access to food gains a nutritional advantage, while protecting a mate increases reproductive success. Although thousands of years of domestication have significantly shaped dogs, the instinct to guard valuable resources remains deeply ingrained. Guarding food ensures survival, and guarding a mate helps secure genetic continuity. This behavior can also be influenced by various environmental and situational factors, such as genetics, early life experiences, or periods of inadequate care. While it’s not always possible to pinpoint the exact cause of resource guarding in a dog, there are effective strategies to address and manage this behavior.
What should I do if my dog resource guards?
If your dog is aggressively guarding resources, it's essential to seek the assistance of a qualified force free trainer. Attempting to address this behavior without professional help can be risky. Resource guarding is a complex issue that requires expert guidance for effective management and behavior modification. With force-free training you can change how your dog feels about situations that typically trigger resource guarding. This enables you to address the issue at it's core, building trust and giving reliable training results. Practical management strategies will prevent your dog from practicing the guarding behavior and maintain the safety of everyone involved throughout the training process. Punishing your dog by taking things away or scolding them for guarding is likely to increase their anxiety about losing resources. This can make them even more fearful, leading to stronger protective behaviors over their valued items.
Set your dog up for success. Until you can get professional help - hide or remove items that your dog may steal and guard to avoid direct confrontation. If you do need to take something from them, ensure it's done through an exchange rather than simply taking it away. The goal of training is to show your dog that they don't need to guard the item and that calm, positive responses are all that’s needed.
Set your dog up for success. Until you can get professional help - hide or remove items that your dog may steal and guard to avoid direct confrontation. If you do need to take something from them, ensure it's done through an exchange rather than simply taking it away. The goal of training is to show your dog that they don't need to guard the item and that calm, positive responses are all that’s needed.
