What Can I Do To Stop My Dog From Resource Guarding?

Does your dog always act out aggressively around certain things like people or even food? If so, your dog might be doing what we call resource guarding. It's something that most, if not all, dogs do, and if untrained and unaddressed, it can lead to various risks that you unnecessarily have to be in!

That said, let's delve deeper into resource guarding and share with you how you can stop resource guarding in dogs:

What Exactly Is Resource Guarding?

Resource guarding happens when one animal tries to defend its resources, including food and toys, from others it perceives as a threat. The animal can be either dogs or cats, and the thing or person they are protecting themselves from can vary.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Resource Guarding?

If you're planning to have a dog in your life, you need to learn how to stop resource guarding. Here are some tips to help you do so:

First and foremost, you need to understand that resource guarding is perfectly normal and can happen to just about any dog. Your dog really just needs to understand that the person or animal that is trying to get his resources is not a threat. Soon enough, your dog will learn how to properly and safely share his resources with other people and dogs.

This means that you need to teach your dog how to properly and safely share his resources, especially when others are around. There are a number of ways that you can do this. Some people prefer to use food to teach their dogs how to share. Start by tossing a handful of treats outside, and your dog will naturally defend it.

At this point, you need to go out to the treat pile and start a little "tug of war" with your dog. Let him know that you will take the resources away and show him that he doesn't have to guard them. You can even have your dog give you the resources by asking him to give them to you.

This process is also known as counter-conditioning. It works by changing the way your dog sees a particular thing or person. In this case, it's changing your dog's perception of sharing. You'll want to keep repeating this process until your dog no longer sees you as a threat. Then, you'll want to repeat the process with other people and your dog.

Another method that you can use to stop resource guarding is called desensitization and counterconditioning. For this method, you'll have to use a treat to get your dog to calm down, lay down, and open its mouth. Then, you'll try to take the resource away from your dog, which will hopefully cause your dog to growl.

At this point in the process, you can try to distract your dog by asking him to do something else, such as looking at you or even giving you a paw. You'll want to repeat this process several times until your dog no longer growls.

In some cases, your dog will still guard his resources, especially if they're super-important to him. You can then use the leash to distract your dog and get it to release the resources.

That said, if you find no success in any of your efforts, always feel free to reach out to an expert for assistance.

Conclusion

Resource guarding is something that most dogs do to protect their resources. It's something that you should definitely take the time to address and stop if you want a happy and healthy dog.

Resource guarding is high-risk behavior, and you don't want to take any chances. This is why you should always be cautious and teach your dog that the people and dogs that he sees in a day are not threats. So, put in the effort to train your dog, and if you don't know what to do or need help, always reach out to a professional to help you train your dog!

EarthWise Pet Fremont offers various pet-related services. If you are looking for a local pet store to purchase quality treats to train your dog and more, check out what we offer!