Resource Guarding
Managing Dogs That Guard Resources
What your dog is thinking — and where to start
Resource guarding can escalate to serious injury. This guide is a starting point, not a substitute for professional support. If your dog has bitten or you are concerned about safety, please book a consult before attempting any training on your own.
Resource guarding is one of the most dangerous and difficult issues to deal with in pet dogs. Sometimes it only escalates to a growl or a snap. However, some dogs will inflict very serious damage to protect something they deem worth it. I HIGHLY recommend that you find a professional who is well-versed in this issue to walk through a formal training process safely and effectively. The first step in resource guarding is stopping the behavior. Easier said than done — but the better we understand the issue and the dog's perspective, the easier we can do that.
Section 1
Your Dog's Perspective
Resource guarding is much simpler to understand once you simply look at it from the dog's point of view. If a dog gets something of high value, it's often because they want it. If you take it away, some dogs — who have a high desire to keep the item or a poor relationship with the individual — may try to work against you to keep their thing.
Dogs Can Guard
- Toys
- Food
- Affection
- People
- Crate
- Bed or couch
- Space
- Random objects they deem valuable
Escalation Over Time
- 1Eating fast
- 2Running away with item
- 3Growling
- 4Showing teeth / lip licking
- 5Snap / bark
- 6Nip
- 7Bite
The act of taking away high value items when your dog is motivated to keep them — plus genetics, poor relationship, and poor socialization — is the catalyst for resource guarding.
Section 2
The 4 Steps to Change Behavior
Changing resource guarding requires a deliberate sequence. Jumping to step three without completing step one is how people get hurt.
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1
Stop the Behavior
Resource guarding is self-reinforcing. Every time it happens it gets stronger. We have to stop it from occurring first.
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2
Play With Your Dog
Build relationship, confidence, and a history of fun and reward.
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3
Train the Dog
Build a basic skill set to use when addressing problem behaviors.
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4
Life Together
Use the skills to enjoy and conquer challenges long term.
Section 3
Stopping the Behavior (Management)
This is all about management. You must be involved and pay attention. If you cannot do that, the dog should be safely contained: tether, leash, or kennel. Your dog has proven they cannot be trusted to have freedom in all environments.
- When asleep, dog is in crate or dog-proofed room
- When hanging out, dog is on leash or tethered to you
- All food outside of training given in the crate
- All toys put away unless it is playtime
- Short-term chews only — items the dog can consume in one session under 30 minutes. Bully sticks are great for this.
- Dogs are never allowed to approach another dog when they have a high value item
- Dogs are never allowed to approach while another dog is receiving affection
Section 4
The Danger Is in the Transitions
If the "picture" of what is happening is stable, everything should be fine. It is when things change that you have to pay attention.
Scenario: Two-dog household
Imagine two dogs, each on their own bed with a bone. One gets up for water. The second dog starts to view the first dog's bone as desirable. When the first dog returns — potential conflict.
Scenario: Person as a resource
If a person is in a room with a dog and that dog has decided they are a resource of value, another person entering the room could be a perceived threat.
Stability is safety. Your job is to recognize when the picture is about to change — and intervene before it does.
Section 5
Resource Guarding Is a Relationship Issue
In whatever form it shows up, we must fix the relationship to address resource guarding. Every time you take something away from the dog, you move in the wrong direction. Every time you punish the dog, you move in the wrong direction.
Do this
- Soften your tone of voice
- Give more treats and food from hand
- Allow the dog to get away with the small things for a while
- Relationship over perfection right now
Avoid this
- Taking things away from the dog
- Punishing the dog for guarding
- Confrontational approaches
- Prioritizing perfection over trust
Section 6
What to Do If You Get Into a Resource Guarding Situation
These are short-term strategies. Eventually the dog will figure you out — which is why you must pair these with a professional training program designed to address the complete dog and problem.
- 01 Call the dog to you and reward — remove the dog from the room before picking up the item
- 02 Roll or toss a high value treat near the dog so they chase it away from the item
- 03 Toss a handful of food near the dog and wait to see if they leave the item
- 04 If the dog has the item and the leash is underneath them — try opening a door to go outside or the car if they love rides
- 05 If you absolutely must get the item, be very careful and be as kind as possible
Common Questions
Questions Joel Gets Asked
A growl is a warning, which is actually healthy communication. The dangerous move is punishing the growl — that teaches the dog to skip the warning and go straight to biting. Take every growl seriously as information, not defiance.
Treats can be part of the solution but not the whole solution. Resource guarding requires management, relationship work, and skill-building — not just counter-conditioning.
This is a safety situation. Separate the dog from the children in any context where guarding could occur, and get a professional involved. This is not a DIY fix.
Not without proper technique and often not without risk. The strategies in the management section above are safer short-term approaches while you build a longer-term solution with professional help.
Next Steps
Resource guarding is not a DIY fix.
If your dog is guarding food, objects, people, or space — especially with escalation or biting history — a professional assessment is the right first step. The free consult is exactly that.