What is resource guarding?
Resource guarding in dogs is a natural but potentially dangerous behaviour. With early socialization, consistent training, and positive reinforcement, you can prevent this behaviour from developing or manage it effectively if it has already started. Teaching your dog to feel comfortable around people and other animals near their valuable items, and rewarding calm behaviour, significantly reduces guarding tendencies.
Resource guarding is a behaviour in dogs where they become defensive or aggressive when protecting something they consider high value.
Resource guarding can be directed at humans, other dogs or both depending on who is considered a threat and can be extremely stressful for both the dog and the humans who can sometimes feel like they are treading on eggshells around their dog.
High value resources deemed worthy of guarding include food, toys, objects (socks, shoes, tissues etc) beds, people, and certain spaces or locations.
Signs of Resource Guarding
Dogs present different levels of resource guarding behaviours, ranging from mild to severe. Common behaviours include:
Stiffening of the body when someone approaches.
Growling or snarling when a person or animal comes near the guarded item.
Barking or showing teeth.
Lunging.
Lip licking, snapping or biting when someone gets too close.
Fixated or staring at the threat.
Rapid eating when someone approaches the food.
Freezing or hovering over the guarded object.
Blocking access to the resource with their body.
Why Does Resource Guarding Occur?
In the wild, animals must guard resources like food to survive. This instinctive and natural behaviour can carry over into domesticated dogs, even when resources are abundant.
Dogs that feel insecure or anxious may guard items to ensure they aren’t taken away.
Puppies that aren’t properly socialized, taught trade games or had negative experiences with items consistently being taken away may develop guarding behaviours as they grow.
In multi-dog households, dogs may guard resources because they feel they must compete for food, attention, or toys.
Dogs that have experienced scarcity of food or competition for resources in the past (e.g., rescued or stray dogs) may be more prone to guarding behaviours.
Avoid Punishment and confrontation!
Resource guarding needs to be addressed with extreme care and is too often made worse with a confrontational ‘I’m the boss’ approaches.
Never punish your dog for guarding behaviour, as this can increase their anxiety and worsen the guarding. Punishment may also damage the trust between you and your dog, making the problem harder to solve.
Never confront an aggressive resource guarding dog to regain the item or space. This will likely make the situation worse and could result in being bitten.
Observe what types of resources your dog guards and the situations in which they become defensive. This will help with future treatment and training plans.
In cases of severe guarding involving aggression, it is essential to seek professional help to prevent the behaviour becoming dangerous and ensure the safety of both the dog and household.
*Whilst resource guarding is usually a behavioural issue, as with all behaviours it is important to rule out illness and injury. A dog experiencing pain or discomfort may be more protective of resources and dogs with hormone imbalances or cognitive dysfunction can be more likely to present aggressive or protective behaviours.