For many owners, resource guarding is one of the most stressful behaviors to address. This is because, if left untreated, the behavior can worsen over time, particularly as a dog gets older.
It can escalate from growling when you approach them holding the item, to a dog biting a person or pet in the home. It can also lead owners to worry about whether the home is safe for children and if they can introduce a new puppy. Fortunately, resource guarding behavior can be managed through behavior modification training. In this blog, we’ll discuss what resource guarding is and help you in recognizing resource guarding behaviors in dogs.
What is Resource Guarding?
Resource guarding is aggressive behavior when a dog has access to a high-value resource that can include food, a person, a toy, or a location such as a bed. This “value” of the item could be whatever your dog considers “high value”. It could be a bone, their meal, or items you may not think a dog would treasure, like an old sock. Resource guarding may also be a location, such as their favorite spot on the couch or where they are fed.
To better understand why a dog resource guards, you can read our blog on “Why is my dog resource guarding?”. This blog was published by our co-founder, Dr. Echterling-Savage, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a PhD in Behavioral Psychology. Now that we have discussed what resource guarding is, let’s discuss how to understand a dog’s body language, particularly when a dog is resource guarding.
Understanding a “Dog’s Body Language”
When a dog is resource guarding, you may notice a shift in their body language. This body language usually gives us warning signs that a dog will be aggressive over a resource. For example, a dog that is guarding a bully stick will often display common body language signs that include:
- Hunkering over the bully stick with a stiff body posture
- Eyes shifting between the bully stick and the person or dog approaching
- Vocalization can vary from a low growl to full-on aggressive barking
- Jaws may tightly clench down on the bully stick
- May try to swallow or eat the bully stick whole
To better understand aggressive body language, you can view our video on recognizing the signs of an impending dog bite. For more information on how to read a dog’s body language, you can check out our blog on “Understanding a Dog’s Body Language”.
When a dog is displaying aggressive behaviors, it’s best not to approach them. Resource-guarding behaviors are complex and require behavior modification training to address them long term. Now that we have discussed a dog’s body language and how to recognize aggressive behavior. Let’s discuss how to treat resource guarding behavior and Beyond the Dog’s approach.
Treating Resource Guarding Behaviors
Fortunately, mild to moderate resource guarding behaviors can be treated through behavior modification training. Severe resource guarding can be addressed, but is unlikely to disappear completely. Our trainers use a combination of positive reinforcement and classical conditioning, including teaching obedience commands relevant to managing their behavior around high-value items. These training techniques will reward your dog for displaying alternate desired behaviors and discourage resource-guarding behaviors.
Have you recently brought a puppy home and are worried about your puppy developing resource-guarding behaviors? Our blog post on a preventive resource-guarding exercise can help reduce the likelihood of this behavior developing.
We Are Here to Help
We hope you have found our blog on recognizing resource guarding behaviors in dogs useful. If you have any behavioral concerns, you can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team. Our behavioral wellness training programs are developed through over 20 years of experience and science-based training methods. Co-founded by Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), our programs draw from her research and decades of hands-on work.
We understand that every dog is unique, which is why our training is fully personalized to your goals. We offer training programs that include virtual consultations, board and train retreat programs, and private one-on-one sessions held at your home or in your local neighborhood.
