How to Resolve Resource Guarding

Resource guarding...It sounds serious right? But did you know that resource guarding is actually a natural behaviour for most animals? If an animal let someone else take his food all the time, he wouldn't survive, so it is a survival instinct to guard what is his. And whilst food, shelter and mates are what most animals will guard instinctively, (humans included!) in domestic dogs we can see this instinct transfer over to other valued items such as toys, water bowls, or even favourite people.

Unfortunately, many people can create a resource guarding problem by frequently taking items away from their dog, whether it's food, toys, or something else. What this does is teaches your dog that people approaching their resources means they will take it away, and this encourages them to guard it.

Another common occurrence is that people will view their dog's growl as a challenge for authority and will punish their dog for this and then take the item away, in an attempt to teach them not to guard. However, again, taking the item away only reaffirms your dog's worries that you are there to take their resources from them. The other major concern with this is that if growling didn't work to warn you, your dog may feel the need to escalate to a bite. In actuality, punishing your dog for growling in any situation is a bad idea. Dog's growl to communicate. A growl is a good thing; it is your dog's way of avoiding conflict by asking you to stop what you are doing without resorting to anything physical.

So what can and should you do if your dog guards resources?
We want to teach the dog that humans approaching his resources = good stuff happens!

1. Always work at a distance your dog is comfortable with. In other words, stand far enough away so that you don't elicit any response from your dog. (Responses can be freezing, stiffening, staring, growling, etc.)
2. From this distance, throw your dog's favourite treats to him, one at a time and allow him to eat them. 
3. Walk away.
4. Repeat this process several times.
5. This time as you approach the distance you normally stand at, take an extra half a step closer, and then throw treats at your dog. Repeat.
6. Gradually build up so that you can be closer and closer to your dog without eliciting a guarding response. 
7. If at any point your dog begins to guard, simply take a step back, and work at a distance your dog is comfortable with.

 Remember, the aim is not to be able to harass him while he is quietly enjoying a meal. The aim is to be able to comfortably and safely be in the vicinity of your dog while he is utilising his resources, whether it's walking past him as he eats, or going to sit down on the couch to watch tv while he sleeps there. On top of this, it's important to continue to manage and prevent resource guarding from occurring in the future, so don't give your dog a reason to guard. Teach him instead that you being around his resources always = good things. Make it his choice to leave the resource. Instead of dragging him off the couch, teach him a solid "off" cue using treats and positive reinforcement. Instead of grabbing things out of his mouth, teach him to "drop it." When he is eating, drinking or sleeping, leave him in peace.