Resource Guarding behaviour is any behaviour that is designed to prevent someone (another dog or a human) from taking something that your dog feels is important or very valuable. Dogs can find value in any object or food for a wide variety reasons.
Resource Guarding is normal to a certain extent. It is a survival mechanism designed to help ensure they have access to things such as food, shelter, water and other things needed to survive. When we see this behaviour in our pets, it can be quite frightening and upsetting- and this is actually the point of the behaviour.
There are a few things to consider when your dog displays these kinds of behaviours:
It is more likely to be seen in dogs who have come from large litters. They learn from day 1 that they need to fight to access resources like food, water and milk. They simply do not know any different.
Punishment is not the solution, in fact it will make it invariably worse.
These types of behaviours require a thorough assessment by a Qualified Trainer. This should not be handled alone or with online resources.
How Can I Prevent Resource Guarding?
The best way to prevent and treat Resource Guarding is to ensure your dog knows they are safe and that nobody is a threat to their resources. So, how can we do that?
Never ever put your hands in your dogs food or water bowl
Never take food, treats, toys or bones off your dog
Never stand over your dog while they are eating or drinking
Always “Swap” or “Trade” your dog for things. They must ALWAYS “win” the trade/swap- meaning they must get something better than they already have in their mouth for giving it up to you.
Teach a really solid recall behaviour that you can use both indoors and outdoors to help redirect events before they happen
Make sure that you approaching your dogs bowl always means something good is going to happen.
My Dog is already Resource Guarding. What should I do?
First and foremost- whenever your dog Guards something- this behaviour MUST work. The goal of the behaviour is to hang onto a resource they are afraid of losing- removing that resource or adding stress by using punishment will only make things worse.
Immediately seek assistance from a Qualified, Fear Free Trainer who understands Resource Guarding. Not all trainers are equipped to handle this behaviour!
Do not take away or remove anything your dog is guarding WHILE they are guarding it. Take note of what it is and when safe to do so , you can remove it.
Put Control & Management strategies in place- ensure that when your dog has access to items they might guard that they are in a safe place and that everyone is giving them space.
They should be left alone until the resource is finished and the dog should be removed from the environment BEFORE the resource
Keep children and other dogs away from your dog while they have access to a resource they are likely to guard. Safety First!
Troubleshooting
I’ve tried to Swap/Trade my dog, but they just snarl or growl and me and guard their resource even more than before!
Try taking a few steps back- you are way to close! Your dog needs to feel safe about you approaching their resource FIRST. Start a good distance away from your dog , toss them a treat and walk away. Do not look at them , talk to them or interact with them. If they growl or react to you, move further away next time you try. Only do this training in very small bursts- no more than twice per meal.
Nothing I offer is worth swapping to my dog!
This is not uncommon, especially if the behaviour has been going on for some time. When your dog is engaging in these behaviours, they are in Fight or Flight mode and not thinking clearly. You will need to take some time to build value in some treats or a toy that you can use for this training. Consider having a go at the Rewards Cheat Sheet.
It is important that children are taught to respect your dogs space first and foremost. Please keep children separated from any dog displaying resource guarding behaviour. Children should never participate in this kind of training without the supervision of a Qualified Trainer. Getting your dog a Vet Check to check for Pain and other underlying medical issues should always be the first step when tackling resource guarding. Often we see that GI issues and pain are the main drivers for this type of behaviour. If you're struggling with Resource Guarding reach out for help either by emailing woof@herdynerdy.com.au or by booking a Behaviour Consult at any of our locations.
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