02/04/2024
Resource Guarding
Does your dog resource guard?
Resource guarding is when someone or something possesses an item and gets annoyed if someone else tries to take it.
In dogs the most common times this can become evident is if:
• We try and take away food, toys or treats that we have given them away
• They have picked up something that isn’t theirs and we try and get it back from them
• They have been allowed to sit or lie in a place and then we don’t want them to for a specific reason and try to move them even verbally or physically even if it is for a short time.
In these instance your dog may stare at you, growl snap or bite to tell you they do not want to give it up. This is what can be classed as resource guarding in dogs as these are the only ways they can communicate that they are unhappy with your decision.
Humans also resource guard and get equally annoyed when someone else tries to take away something (a resource) such as:
• A waiter tries to take away our plate or glass before we are finished with it
• Someone sitting in a chair or at a desk you normally sit in.
• Putting out a towel on a sunbed when on holiday and someone removes it
• If another person is taking up your friend or partners time when you are with them.
In these instances, we don’t usually growl snap or bite, but we may scowl, huff and puff, say no, tell them they are out of order or pretend to ignore (while quietly seething inside)
Both us and our dog are feeling the same emotions but due to our species and previous learning we deal with these and other resource guarding situations in the only way we know how.
In humans it rarely becomes overly aggressive or physical as we have learned to contain ourselves on animals, they do not naturally have those skills.
I am not saying resource guarding in dogs should allowed to get to the stage of growling snapping and biting but is our responsibility to ensure that your dog does not feel the need to resource guard.
With puppies or new dogs that are not showing these behaviours you can start of your relationship by managing their environment to avoid situations that may occur by;
• Not taking away food, treats or toys you have given them to your dog. Why would you need to do this?
• Keeping dangerous or precious items out of the reach of your dog so you don’t have to challenge them for what they may think of a “treasure”. They do not have any concept of what is valuable to us or dangerous to them.
• Teach them that they may be required to move off the sofa or bed or to allow someone else to join them when required.
If your dog already has these tendencies, you will require professional training or behaviour support to modify these behaviours.
Just as some humans may require behaviour adjustment assistance if their reactions are unreasonable.
For further advice or support with resource guarding contact Gill 07595217299 or [email protected]
