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What is resource guarding? (“RG” for short)
When a dog displays protective or guarding behaviors related to a person, place or thing that dog perceives as an item they don’t want to share.
Generally, this can be displayed as stiff body language with their head held low and an angry stare, baring teeth, a snarl, growl, bark, lunge, bite or full on attack when someone or something comes near the “thing” they’re guarding”.
Dog’s use a variety of methods to communicate their wide variety of feelings, and the feeling they don’t want to share in that moment isn’t a feeling we want to challenge. More on that below.
Why do some dogs develop this behavior, or why does it seem to escalate over time?
Some dogs learn to guard any perceived resources if they feel that their resources are being threatened.
Usually it is caused by humans or animals disregarding the dogs' gentle/nice expressions that they want something, and instead we ignored that and took the resource. This shows we don’t care and is a bully dominating action to the dog, which breaks down trust and is disrespectful communication.
A resource can be anything from a shoe, bone, toy, bed, person or area of the house, or even themselves/their personal space.
No matter the age or breed, any dog can develop this behavior. This is not a dominant or aggressive personality trait, though some dogs may be more prone to this than others.
What to do about it?
Let's first clear up one dangerous and harmful myth: "You should practice taking things from your dog, even if they don't like it. You need to make sure they know you're the alpha and they should submit to you."
This is an out-dated and inhumane way of viewing canine behavior and we know this is not a good, healthy or safe way to interact with our dogs. We can set boundaries and expectations without making the problem worse in the process. While some dogs may not show outward signs of an issue with this, we know that the act of feeling we have the right to “own and dominate” each item, piece of food, toy and area actually sends some mixed and intimidating messages, we’re being a bully essentially, telling our dogs they have no right to have feelings- which is not helpful and makes this MUCH worse and even dangerous.
Now, on to what we SHOULD do:
We will need to first assess the situation in great detail.
When, where and with whom does the guarding behavior occur?
Around who or what?
What specific items or areas or people?
How often does this happen?
What level of guarding behaviors have been displayed?
Has anyone been injured? People or animals.
How old is your dog
Are there children or other animals in the house?
Is there some history we can relate to this behavior?
Then we can come up with a customized plan.
To start the process toward resolving this conflict, you can follow these steps using the details you gathered above.
Remove ALL perceived resources from the environment. This means every toy, food or water bowl, dog bed, bone, shoe or other items.
Remove the freedom to access areas that may be guarded such as the couch, bed, stairs, a person's lap or another dog's kennel.
Create a separate space for each pet in the house. A kennel in the bedroom for one, a kennel in the laundry room for the other, the cat gets the guest room, the kids stay out of the pets areas and the pets stay out of the kids areas for example.
Start expecting manners and personal space around you and everyone in the house. No jumping up, begging, barking at, getting up on your lap or the couch/chair with you, eating other people or pets food/water.
Have each dog earn each freedom, meal, play session and reward. This is an important step in resetting the playing field, helping our pups know that there are no resources for them to guard, and those resources are ours to worry about and for them to enjoy when they earn it.
What if they have a high value item and are guarding it when I or anyone comes near?
This is where having a really solid DROP IT cue comes in handy! If not, we resort to the next option, we trade up and lure pup away from the item/place OR remove yourself if you’re the object that’s being guarded.
STEPS:
As you approach, you'll notice what distance causes your pup to guard, protect or show tense body language.
This is where you stop.
Go grab the highest value treats you can find. *Keep some lunch meat or boiled plain chicken in the fridge in a baggie)
Toss those toward you pup, but don't approach. Toss one every 10 seconds or so, about 1-2 feet from your dog, maybe a few bounced off their butt, some right in front of them.
Eventually your dog will get up to get those treats- if not, the value of the treats you are offering are NOT high enough value!
When they get up to get the treats, say "good drop it" and keep tossing a few more, in a trail leading AWAY from the item/area/person they were guarding.
Do not go toward them or the item/area they were guarding until they're in the other room- eating a pile of treats scattered across the floor.
Then, grab it quickly and it needs to disappear never to be seen again by the dog, if possible.
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