This is MINE! – RESOURCE GUARDING
Guarding resources is a problem that often occurs randomly. Some dogs may develop this issue from the very beginning, others may never manifest treasure guarding. The root of this behavior may be different, but what matters for sure, are the conditions in which the pregnant bitch was held (level of stress, access to water and food, welfare), puppies after birth (free access to puppies for their mother, early interactions with other dogs, human handling, access to toys and food) and of course how the process of socialization was held later on.
Possession=security
In the majority of cases, such behavior is associated with a dog’s uncertainty and feeling insecure. Possession makes your dog feel safe and fulfill his needs. Owner’s confrontational attitude does not solve it, and many times it even intensifies the problem. Techniques based on intimidation, force and domination make the animal lose confidence and become afraid of the approaching caregiver. That is why it is very important to make an appropriate assessment of the problem. It helps to choose effective techniques, avoid mistakes that increase unwanted behaviors and get rid of them.
Let’s look at the problem a little closer.
Imagine (or remind yourself from previous years) a situation in which a fascinating movie is being watched on the couch. Your wife/sister/mother will soon enter and announces that on the 999 channel the culinary program has just begun, with a special guest and she must see it! Having said that, she takes a big step towards the coffee table where IT is – the remote control!
With disbelief and growing fear, your brain is starting to work at full speed trying to find a solution to this situation, avoid conflict and finish watching the show you started on TV. With each step closer to the coffee table, your fear turns into aggression, thanks to which, at the last moment, you jump up from the couch, catch the item, defending it from the tormentor’s claws, jump back to the couch and hide the object behind your body. At the same time, you shout out loud: NO! I AM WATCHING NOW!!!
Controlling guarding behavior
Yes. Defending resources also occurs among the human species! And if it does happen to us, we should not be surprised to notice the issue in dogs. They can defend literally everything; from food in their bowl, bones, toys, chew toys; to dog bed, crate, couch, bed, owner, child, another dog, house, garden, car, etc.
Forcing your dog to drop something or scaring him away from the item he’s guarding may only make things worse! I know we all hear that from the beginning we should go into dog’s bowl and put our hands there as they eat. Let’s not do it… Instead hand feed, at first throw food on the ground/into the bowl, later on in the process you can get closer and closer and offer food from your hand/ be able to put it in dog’s bowl. Teach them that YOU dispose of food, make them associate you with good things, especially when around food.
If the problem is toys it’s usually the result of ‘dominance theory’. People say you need to be in charge of toys and you can’t let your dog win. There’s a lot to say about this…
But let’s just say letting your dog win is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s amazing, because it keeps them entertained, it’s not them dominating us. It’s dogs being dogs and when you reward with toys, let them cherish that moment. Don’t just reward with putting tug toy in their mouth and immediately saying ‘leave it’.
Few more helpful tips
Teaching your dog rules and boundaries, obedience, in general, will be very helpful with resource guarding. Using positive reinforcement work on solid ‘get down’ form bed, couch, car; build positive associations with approaching people (start with your household members, later go on to strangers); master trading your dog’s treasure for something of a bigger value (for example as your dog plays with a toy, bring his old time favorite ball and try getting him interested in it, or offer boiled chicken for leaving his chew toy).
How would you behave if your wife/sister/mother came with a laptop that had an open movie that you are watching with a trading proposal because this culinary program cannot be found online? And she would also back it up with yummy fresh popcorn as compensation and only after this communication and your approval she reached for the remote control…
The situation is changing drastically, right?
Prevent, before the real problem escalates to real aggression
Try to assess problems with defending resources at the early puppy age to prevent it from happening. It is much easier to prevent, that treat learned behavior. Some of the tips given above in severe cases may be making things worse, instead of solving the issue, I suggest contacting a professional behaviorist to address the difficulty of your dog’s case and chose the right methodology.
The decision about how to work with your dog should be left to the specialist (make sure you will choose the right dog behaviorist, for more tips read HERE.)
Otherwise, some methods can only deepen the problem of your dog, who can start snapping aggressively and in many cases attack.
Dog Behavior Specialist
Ewa Hemmy is behaviorist and dog trainer who is also a writer on top of that. She has College Degree in Animal Behavior earned in Poland, where she comes from. She still consistently study, participate in online courses, webinars and reads through most recent research. Ewa has been writing articles for few years now and loves to educate dog owners on providing better care and understanding of their pet. She believes you can solve unwanted behavior, because your DOG is ABLE to be TRAINED! She can be contacted at ewa.hemmy@gmail.com or call at (785) 822 7409.
