What is resource guarding?
A super common (and natural) behaviour in pet dogs, resource guarding is anything a dog does to gain a resource or keep hold of that resource. They’ll only guard a resource if they care about it. People tend to notice the behaviour with things like food and toys. But it’s possible for your dog to guard anything from resting spots and certain people to something gross like a tissue you dropped on the floor.
Signs to watch out for
So how do you know if your dog’s resource guarding? Well, there are some pretty obvious signs and some not so obvious ones. The super subtle ones tend to come before the loud and scary ones so you’ll want to pay extra special attention to those.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Turning their head and/or body away while keeping hold of a resource.
- Moving away from you with a resource – some dogs may run and look like they’re playing.
- Standing over or freezing around a resource.
- Watching you while having a resource - you may notice the whites of their eyes or that they’re giving you a hard stare.
- Eating an item really quickly while you’re around.
- Classic signs of “aggression” like baring teeth, growling, snarling, snapping and biting.
How to prevent it
Firstly, there are some things that are out of your control so don’t beat yourself up if your dog does develop a resource guarding issue. Genetics and medical conditions can contribute to various behavioural problems, not just guarding
But you can help your dog feel comfortable with resources around others by following some simple steps.
Remember that your dog will guard if they worry about losing access to their resources. So instead of being someone that takes things away, teach them that you come to give and that you can be trusted.
If they get hold of something you need back, encourage them to swap it for something of higher value. You can easily do this by grabbing a handful of tasty treats and tossing them towards your dog then away to create a treat trail. Or make a toy seem super fun to divert their attention.
You can also teach them skills like drop and leave to prevent them taking things in the future. Or simply tidy valuable items away to save yourself the trouble! If they have something you don’t need back such as their toy or chew, add to the party by tossing a few extra treats their way. That way, they’ll see your presence as a good thing. And make sure they have plenty of their own resources so things aren’t so precious to them.
There are some things to avoid doing, too:
- Leave them alone while they’re eating or resting. No one wants to be bothered mid-meal or when they’re relaxing.
- Avoid messing around with their meals by picking their bowl up and giving it back to them or putting your hand in their bowl. This is more likely to contribute to guarding than prevent it!
- Don’t pull items out of their mouth. Young puppies in particular love to pick things up with their mouths. Unless it’s a life or death situation, leave them to it. They’ll likely get bored pretty quickly and drop it.
- Don’t tell them off or punish them in other ways if they give you a warning like a growl. This will only teach them that you are something to worry about. And next time, they may skip the growl and go straight to something more severe like a bite.
What if my dog already guards things?
If you’re concerned about your dog’s resource guarding, reach out to a clinical animal behaviourist registered with the ABTC. They can help your dog view others more positively and reduce any worry or frustration they have around resources.
In the meantime, you can avoid your dog practising the behaviour by removing access to anything that your dog guards if it’s not necessary for their welfare. If they guard something they need to have, like their meals, ensure they have those in a safe space where they can be left alone.
Author Spotlight
Lauren Sharkey is an ABTC-registered dog trainer and provisional Clinical Animal Behaviourist with a degree-level qualification in canine behaviour. She’s based in Kent and runs Winnie’s World a company that aims to give dogs and their families the life they deserve. She shares her life with a Shar Pei named Winston, who is the inspiration for her business along with being her biggest love (and challenge!).