How to Stop Resource Guarding Behavior in Dogs

For this Omaha dog behavior session we worked with Nike, a 5 year-old Lab / Mastiff mix on how to stop resource guarding.

Anytime you have a dog with a resource guarding problem, it’s cause for concern. But, if you have a giant breed dog like Nike (120+ lbs), it can become pretty dangerous.

What is Resource Guarding?

Resource guarding is when dogs try to protect something valuable by growling, stiffening, or even biting if approached.

I began by asking questions to see if the humans were causing Nike to guard his resources.

Sometimes we do things without realizing it. These things can make a dog protective of their belongings. For example, taking away their food bowl or toys.

As a dog behaviorist, I frequently see things people do that can make dogs frustrated or anxious, leading to behavior problems. In my first sessions, I focus on common issues and stress the importance of using marker words. I also highlight the significance of praising good behavior and ensuring pets get enough exercise and mental stimulation. Additionally, I teach tricks as needed during these sessions.

Sometimes my clients get a little frustrated when I do this, thinking I’m not addressing their dog’s behavior problems. But I absolutely am.

Dog trainers often struggle to solve behavior problems because they don’t address these basic issues. Frustration is a big reason behind many of the problems I’ve fixed. I told Nike’s owner that several things people were doing was making Nike frustrated and less likely to listen at home.

Tips on How to Stop Resource Guarding Behavior in Dogs

Stopping dogs from resource guarding is all about making sure the dog isnt worried we are going to take their resource. Dogs may guard anything, and taking away items, even briefly, can worsen the problem, even when guarding is inappropriate.

It’s not a case of showing the dog it gets it back; the dog just sees us taking their thing or sticking our hand in their bowl. They may not react in the moment, but they remember the interaction and it can contribute to the next resource guarding incident.

I talked about teaching a dog to drop things and stressed the need for practicing regularly. It’s best to do at least 10 repetitions a day, but more is even better. Use low-value items for practice. This is crucial for addressing resource guarding in dogs, yet often overlooked.

The fact is, the more a dog voluntarily drops things, even low value things, the more likely they are to drop higher value items later. I’d like to see the guardians stop physically taking anything away from the dog and instead asking the dog to drop it. When they do drop it, the dog is saying “I’m totally cool with you having this item.”

I also went over a hand targeting exercise, a cue that asks a dog to come over and touch its nose to the person’s hand. I went over this lesson as often there are times a dogs is not clear to the human that they do not want to engage or agree with what the human is doing.

Once Nike has this hand targeting exercise down, the humans can use it to determine if he is OK with our request or interaction. If it’s not, and we don’t work on the issue or listen to their response, we can cause a dog to feel cornered or confronted which can cause it to react.

We found a solution for dogs who guard their belongings by understanding why they feel the need to protect them. This includes when a dog guards bones, the kennel, and other items. I handed my camera over to the guardian so I could share an easy way to stop a dog from resource guarding.

The great thing about this free positive dog training video on how to stop resource guarding is how easy it is to do. Our exercises can help anyone stop a dog from guarding resources at home, no need for professional training.

The secret to stop resource guarding in dogs is pretty simple; prove to the dog that you aren’t there to take their belongings. In fact, your presence is an indication that your furry friend is about to get even better stuff, so they don’t need to resource guard their kennel, bones or toys.

The issue with resource guarding in dogs is it happens suddenly, usually at inconvenient moments. I suggested keeping high-value treats handy throughout the house to quickly manage these situations. Viewing future episodes as chances to help Nike overcome this behavior is key.

I made a video to help Nike’s owners remember what we learned during our in-home dog training session. Watch below for more dog training tips!