A & B Dog Walking & Dog Training

07/04/2025

When you're trying to sprout potatoes, but the cat can't resist a cardboard box!! 🤔🤦🏼‍♀️. Surely that's not comfy Eddie? 🐱😹🐈‍⬛

06/04/2025

Busy weekend of running 🏃🏼‍♀️, hiking 🚶🏽‍♀️ and swimming 🏊🏼‍♀️ with friends and all the boys 🚶🏻🐕🐕🐾⛰️⛱️. Plus a bit of decorating and gardening! As you can see, we're all tired out now! 🥱🤣. .pearson.967

04/04/2025

Friday's morning jolly and the sunbathing after! 🌄☀️☀️🐕🐾🐾🚶🏽‍♀️⛰️

29/03/2025

Excellent article! Resource guarding is tough, and often misunderstood, and easy to accidentally make worse!

Rethinking the Swap: Resource Guarding and Consent in Dogs

In the springtime, we see an influx of puppies and new adoptions as people prepare for more pleasant weather. By autumn, many of these puppies—now in adolescence—begin to show signs of resource guarding. It’s a common trend for behaviour professionals to see such cases during seasonal shifts.

Resource guarding (RG) can be a completely natural canine behaviour—dogs may protect what they value, whether it’s food, toys, space, or even people. But because it’s often viewed negatively, a common approach to preventing RG in puppies is teaching a “swap” behaviour—offering a treat or something of higher value in exchange for the guarded item. On the surface, this seems practical and positive. However, the swap technique can fall short if it’s not grounded in a deeper understanding of canine emotional safety.

The Problem with Swap-First Approaches:

If a dog has not been taught the concepts of consent, safety, and choice, then “swap” becomes just another transactional demand. The dog may still learn that humans might take things unpredictably, and while a treat might be offered, the experience lacks trust and voluntary participation. Over time, this can actually create or exacerbate guarding behaviour rather than prevent it—especially if the dog perceives repeated loss of valued items.

Choice as Foundations:

Dogs raised with concept training—where the emphasis is on emotional safety, agency, and choice—are far less likely to develop RG issues in the first place. When a dog knows they won’t be forced, that their needs are heard, and that communication is two-way, they’re more likely to offer items freely, making a formal “swap” unnecessary.

Instead of jumping to training a trade, teaching the underlying concepts that support cooperative behaviours might be more beneficial. Concept training helps dogs understand ideas like “sharing is safe,” “giving things up doesn’t mean loss,” and “my voice matters.” These foundational lessons make behaviours like swapping more meaningful and reliable.

Passive Tips for Preventing RG:

💡Observe Body Language Closely

Watch for subtle signs of discomfort or tension when the dog has something—even if it’s not deemed valuable. Respecting their signals is essential for establishing a foundation of trust.

💡Practise “Trade” with More Choice

When offering a swap, let the dog choose whether to engage. Offer the alternative without demanding the original item. If they keep the original, that’s okay—trust is more important. Practising trades out of context (when there’s no conflict) is especially beneficial.

💡Use Consent-Based Handling and Interaction

Teach a “can I?” cue. Before reaching for an item, offer a hand and wait for the dog’s engagement. Reward curiosity, not compliance.

💡Reinforce Voluntary Sharing

If the dog brings something, praise them—even if there’s no need to take it. Reinforce the act of offering rather than focusing on possession.

💡Avoid Unnecessary Takeaways

Not falling into the habit of routinely taking things “just because.” If the dog has something safe and appropriate, let them enjoy it. Constant interruption teaches distrust.

While teaching a puppy to swap can be useful, but without the deeper work of building trust, consent, and communication, it risks becoming a quick fix rather than a sustainable solution. When dogs feel secure and respected, they’re naturally more cooperative. The real prevention for RG lies not in teaching them to give things up, but in nurturing a safe environment that builds trust.

Boo Blackhurst, CDBC

26/03/2025

A selection of Ben's walkies from last week! 🐕🐕🐾🐾🐩🐩

25/03/2025

Day 2 of our weekend adventures. Coledale Horseshoe race route recee. Grizedale Pike, Eel Crags, Sail, Barrow. ⛰️⛰️🐕🏃🏼‍♀️🐕🐾🐾. Should be a fun, but tough race!

24/03/2025

Day 1 of weekend adventures! Brae Fell, Yard Steel, Miller Moss & High Pike hiked🚶🏽‍♀️🐕🐾⛰️⛰️🐕.

24/03/2025

23/03/2025

Two days, two adventures! We're all pooped now!! 🤣. Photos to follow..... 🏃🏼‍♀️🚶🏽‍♀️⛰️🐾🐾🐕⛰️

21/03/2025

Sunset 🌅 and (just after) sunrise 🌄 fun this week. ☀️🐕🐕🐾🏃🏼‍♀️⛰️.

19/03/2025

Well put!

A lot of dogs want you to know this -

Instead of a fancy collar and bed? They’d rather have a fenced in yard - even if it has to be small and home made - so they can have off leash time to dog and dig.

Instead of daily neighborhood walks? They’d rather you drive to a dirt road and put them on a 30ft line and let them zig zag and smell as long as they like

Instead of twice daily meals in a bowl? They’d rather have food through enrichment activities that stimulates their brain and their nose.

Instead of basic obedience training? They’d rather have purpose driven training that feeds their genetic make up and needs AND helps them survive and thrive in todays world.

Instead of a human wanting something from them? They’d love a human wanting to understand them better.

Instead of focusing on perfect “heels” and “stays”? They’d love to learn how to be resilient and less stressed and cope with the outside world and our expectations.

Instead of harsh punishments and corrections? They’d prefer proactive management and rewards for good decisions.

We can’t change everything about the lives our dogs are forced to live with us in, but we can make these kinds of changes and see a huge improvement in their quality of life and wellbeing.

-Helen St. Pierre

18/03/2025

A few of Ben's lovely clients from last week. 🐕🐕🐾🐾🚶🏼

16/03/2025

Tired boys after show today. No rosettes, but some good runs and some good learning!

15/03/2025

Lovely trot out on Mae's Tearoom + Gallery, Uldale , Tea Round. ⛰️🏃🏼‍♀️. No dogs today as they're resting for their show tomorrow, but what an afternoon for it! 🌟.
Sadly Cafe shut by time we finished 😥 , so no tea ☕ or cake 🍰! Must plan accordingly next time.

Bonus shot of our dog wander 🐕🐕 when I got back, looking over into Scotland.

12/03/2025

Wow! 😍 What a beautiful morning. So clear, could see for miles! ⛰️⛰️🌄🏃🏼‍♀️🐕🐕🐾🐾🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

10/03/2025

Some of Ben's lovely clients on their walks last week!

⛰️☀️🐾🐾

08/03/2025

A glorious day for a summit stroll with family & friends! .pearson.967
🐕🐕🐕🐕🐾⛰️🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏼☀️

06/03/2025

Good Morning!! 🌄🌞😍🐕🐕🐾🐾