Resource Guarding – Now What?

Resource guarding is exactly that – guarding a resource. This occurs in dogs when they exhibit behavior like standing over, biting, lunging/charging and growling over anything that is precious to them. This may range from toys to food, a spot on the couch, their safe space etc. anything of value to them. This behavior can be discouraged if training starts early. But, when your dog displays this behavior, it is best to clear things like toys and bowls before visitors come over, for your dog’s peace of mind and the safety of your guests.

Resource guarding often stems from a place of insecurity or anxiety. The guard because they have a fear of something being taken away, because they feel they have to protect something.

In extreme cases you may have to enroll the help from a behaviorist on how to work with your dog. There are certain ways to retrain your dog in some instances. But with extreme cases it is best to get expert advice. It is also important that you put certain precautions in place. If your dog is food guarding, do not go near the food bowl when he is eating. If he doesn’t eat everything in one sitting, do not leave food standing around once he has finished.

If your dog is guarding toys, it is important not to try and punish him by taking the toys away. He is guarding it because he is fearful that it will be taken away. Give your dog space and leave the toys alone. If you have kids at home, it is important that you are always supervising their interaction with your dog. Kids can’t read a dog’s behavior to the point where they know when they are being warned off.

If you have more than one dog, and food guarding is an issue, feed you dogs separately so they cannot get to each other during feeding times. this will prevent your dog from feeling threatened while eating. Dogs who guard their food will often gulp their food down to prevent others from getting to it. This can be dangerous and cause your dog to regurgitate or choke. To prevent this try feeding your dog in a slow feeder bowl. These bowls make it hard for a dog to eat very fast.

A trick people sometimes use to show their dogs that they are not a threat while their dogs are eating, is to walk past the dog while eating and drop a treat on the floor. Make sure, the treat is more desirable than the food in his bowl. Don’t stop moving when you do this. Just drop the treat and carry on. If your dog stiffens then you know you’ve come too close. Keep doing this and see if the body language changes with time. This is a very slow process but may help your dog feel more comfortable with having you around at feeding times Resource guarding of any kind is a serious issue. And though you as a responsible owner need to have precautions in place, it is important to get help from an Expert.

Socializing a puppy well, feeding a litter together, early training for your puppy are all things you can do to help prevent this from behavior as they grow up.

We always say this, but the effort you put into the raising of your puppy, is extremely important and even more rewarding when you have a well- balanced happy adult dog.

Source: English & French Bulldog Rescue SA

——————————————————————————————

Disclaimer: The information produced by Infurmation is provided for general and educational purposes only and does not constitute any legal, medical or other professional advice on any subject matter. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always seek the advice of your vet or other qualified health care provider prior to starting any new diet or treatment and with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you suspect that your pet has a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.