Resource Guarding
Why Are Dogs Resource Guarders?
Resource Guarding presents itself when a dog is reluctant to give you or another dog something that is in their possession. A dog may freeze, clamp down on the object in their mouth, growl, or snap if you try to remove the object. Resource Guarding is an adaptive trait, meaning it is an instinct that is deeply rooted in the dog that helps her survive in the wild. If a dog willingly gave up her food to other dogs in the wild she might starve. Dogs demonstrate this possessive trait for food as well as items like toys, beds or forbidden items. Guarding is normal dog behaviour. Unfortunately it is unwanted in our culture.
Prevent Resource Guarding in Puppies and New Dogs
One of the first things you should teach your puppy is this concept:
Hands come in to give; not to take away.
A puppy will learn to become leery of hands around food, treats and toys if they always come in to take those coveted items away. You must create a positive association with hands around your puppy when she is eating, playing with a toy or chewing on a bone.
Food Bowl Exercises to Prevent Aggression
The first place to start is when your puppy is eating. Below are exercises to work on with your puppy or new dog an a regular basis to prevent food-bowl aggression.
- Stay with your puppy and pet and talk to them while they eat so they are used to your presence and being handled while eating.
- Instead of putting their bowl on the ground hold it and then hand-feed your dog their meal.
- As they are eating out of their bowl drop more kibble or an even more exciting treat, like a piece of chicken, into their bowl.
- As they are eating take their bowl away and then give it back with more treats in it.
Teaching the "Drop It" Command to Prevent Resource Guarding with Objects
The drop it command will teach your puppy to happily relinquish items on command.
Use very high quality, and very smelly treats for this exercise.
Give your dog a relatively uninteresting toy. When she has it in her mouth say "Drop It" in a firm tone and then put a treat in front of her nose to entice her to drop the toy. When she lets the toy go click'n'treat. It is important to pick up the toy right away so your dog can't get it again.
Next, give the command "Take it" in a happy voice and present the dog with the toy. You have just created a win-win situation for the dog: when she drops the toy she gets a treat and then she gets the toy back!
If your dog will not relinquish the item, do not pull it out of her mouth because this will turn the exercise into a game of tug-of-war. If the dog will not give up the object, you are either starting with an object that is too highly valued or your treat is not enticing enough.
When you begin teaching this exercise, you are technically bribing the dog to give up the toy by showing her the treat. As your dog learns the command, try to wean her off the treat by not showing the dog the treat until after she drops the object. Always remember to give the toy back after you take it away because the goal of this exercise is to teach the dog that hands give, not take away. As your dog becomes better and better at this command begin increasing the value of the toy she must give up. Gradually bump up the value of the item over several weeks until your dog is willing to drop forbidden, coveted items like tissues or garbage.
When you find your dog with something they are not supposed to have do not chase after them. If you do, you will turn the scene into a game of 'catch-me-if-you-can.' Calmly go get a very enticing treat and ask your dog to drop the object. Click'n'treat when she drops it, pick up the object immediately, give her lots of praise, and offer her one of her own toys since she will not be getting the forbidden object back.