Resource guarding… what causes it, how to prevent it and how to correct it
Resource guarding is when a dog feels the urge to protect or guard a resource. A resource can be anything a dog perceives as valuable to them. People often think of food and treats when it comes to dogs resource guarding but the truth is that a resource can be anything your dog likes. Food, toys, a spot on the couch, a certain area of your home and even you can be a resource to your dog (if that’s the case, you and your dog have a lot more issues than resource guarding)
The nature of a dog’s resource guarding varies. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to be resource guarders and you’ll often notice this behavior in these dogs as early as puppyhood. Some dogs resource guard because of their past history. Some rescued dogs who have spent time as a stray often have this issue because they became conditioned to have to guard their resources for survival. Most of the time however dogs resource guard because they were inadvertently nurtured by their owners.
If your dog is genetically disposed to being a resource guarder correcting the behavior may be very difficult and in some tough cases you may have to manage the behavior instead of correcting it all together. Dogs with a past history that lead them to become resource guarders can be difficult as well especially if the behavior has been going on for a long time and dogs who were nurtured to be resource guarders are actually the easiest dogs to recondition.
So how do you correct resource guarding?
Provide a structured environment and lifestyle for your dog: have a daily routine and schedule for your dog. Set boundaries and rules for your dog and be consistent on enforcing these rules. Take the time to practice basic obedience commands with your dog everyday and integrate these commands in your dog’s day to day activities and routines. In a nut shell you want to show your dog, you’re their leader and you make all the decisions. I’m not saying bully your dog, instead try viewing yourself as a strong parent. Dogs who view their humans as leaders and who are structured and disciplined hardly ever resource guard
Do not leave food, treats or toys out for your dog to have access to whenever they please. This is extremely important to prevent and correct resource guarding. You may leave these items out for your dog to enjoy because you love and care for your dog but that’s not the way resource guarding dogs view this act of kindness. Instead the see it this way: these toys and treats are out for me to have access to because they belong to me, I am entitled to them because they are mine and no one with the exception of certain people maybe can touch them or even come near them and if they do, I will guard my resources! Instead be intentional with the resources you provide for your dog. Provide them as a reward for good behavior or for a certain purpose such as giving them a stuffed kong toy to keep them busy while you get on a conference call on your computer.
Consider making furniture off limits: key word “Consider”. I know many of you don’t like with when I recommend this but if your dog is guarding a particular space in your home such as a spot on your couch or bed or if your dog guards you, banning furniture can resolve the issue over night. Just like leaving resources out for your dog to have access to as they please dogs can become entitled to parts of the furniture or your personal space. There are many great dog beds and couches on the market that are probably more comfortable for your dog than your own furniture. Both you and your dog will be fine without sharing furniture and it’s great for establishing boundaries with your dog which helps avoid many bad behaviors other than resource guarding.
Teach your dog the “drop it”, “leave it” and “Off” commands: if your dog is resource guarding a sock, he has it in his mouth and doesn’t want to let go, he’s not going to drop it if he doesn’t know what drop it means. Get your dog’s favorite tug toy and some high value treats, no I’m not talking about those cheap biscuits they give away for free at Petco I’m talking about pieces of cheese, bologna or hot dogs. You have to whip out the good stuff for training! Get into an intense game of tug with your dog then suddenly freeze and say “drop it”. If your dog continues to tug just hold your grip but do not move and participate in the game, eventually your dog will get bored and release and the moment he does say good and give him a treat. Repeat until your dog figures out the game. After practicing drop it, when your dog releases the tug toy place it on the floor and say “leave it”. If your dog pursues the toy, promptly place your foot between the toy and your dog and say “no”. Repeat until your dog shows restraint when you say “leave” it then say “good” and give him a treat. When your dog figures out this game have him hold the leave it for a few more seconds then gradually build time before rewarding your dog with the treat or with the toy. For the off command put your dog on a piece of furniture while they have a six foot leash attached to a collar, I said a collar not a harness. Even if you use a harness for walks, using a collar during this training exercise will be much more effective and I promise you it will not hurt your dog. Have some high value treats ready and tell your dog “off” while pointing away from the furniture. If your dog complies immediately say good as they get off the couch and give him a treat the moment his four paws are on the ground. If he doesn’t comply say off again while giving him a slight twitch on the leash. You may have to give him a few quick simultaneous twitches while you say off. The purpose isn’t to punish the dog for not complying but instead to give your dog a physical prompt which may be easier for your dog to understand than verbal commands. With daily repetitions your dog will then make the association of getting off the furniture with the “off” command and you may not have to use physical prompts anymore.
Utilize E-collar training: you may try everything I mentioned above along with other methods you’ve researched but in the right scenario your dog may still resource guard. For some dogs it’s as if their personalities are completely changed when their in resource guarding mode. They’re normal, sweet little creatures but as soon as they get settled into chewing a bully stick their body stiffens, their pupils dilate, they bare their teeth, raise their hackles and you may feel like you may have to call a priest over to perform an exorcism on sweet little Molly. Remember when I mentioned physical prompts are sometimes easier for a dog to understand than verbal commands? Well when your dog is in a guarding state of mind they may not even hear you when you say, drop it, leave it or off even if you practice these commands often. Police K9s who are trained as apprehension dogs may often let go when commanded to during training but in real life intense scenarios they may require an e collar to release a perpetrator. The same may apply to house pet dogs exhibiting certain behaviors. Remember, it’s not about punishing your dog for non compliance, it’s about communicating with your dog when verbal communication isn’t working so you only have to use stimulation levels high enough to get your dog’s attention. Sometimes this stimulation level is so low it feels like something is tickling your finger when you try it on your finger tips. Always get the help of a reputable dog trainer who’s experienced using e-collars. Spending the extra couple bucks on training is cheaper than a lawsuit or hospital bills if your dog bites someone while resource guarding.
In conclusion it’s always easier to prevent resource guarding than correcting it so make sure to set some boundaries and discipline your dog the moment they arrive to your home. Utilize your dog’s resources with a purpose as a reward for good behavior. Make training commands such as “drop it” “leave it” and “off” fun by giving your dog high value rewards and get excited and animated when they comply…. You pretty much want to make it a game. Lastly don’t be afraid to utilize e-collars. E-collars today are much more refined so you can find that precise stimulation level that gets your dog’s attention while not causing any pain and it’s a phenomenal piece of technology that allows you to communicate with your dog when verbal communication is not working. 🐶❤️