Resource Guarding: Building a Positive Association, Without Inadvertently Making It Worse

by Bailey Coldwell

Resource guarding is a delicate topic that has resulted in different dog training approaches over time. We now know that we should not put our hands in the dog’s food or constantly take items away from the dog, as this can cause a negative association with us being nearby. This was an approach certain trainers used to take, to try to show that they are dominant or alpha over the dog, but we now know that we do not need to take this hierarchy approach in dog training. The best approach to combat resource guarding is to build a positive association with people being around a dog while they have something rewarding. Sometimes, though with good intentions, we are seeing that this can be taken a bit too far, still creating the expectation that we invade their space. Keep reading to learn more about building a positive association, without overdoing it. 

I once heard another trainer explain that the approach to resource guarding should be similar to what we would like from a waiter/waitress when going out to eat at a restaurant. I enjoy it when my waitress checks in a few times throughout the meal, is clearly happy, and offers appetizers, drinks, or desserts. On the other hand, I wouldn’t like it if the waitress sat down at the table with me while I was trying to enjoy my meal, started brushing the hair out of my face, and then took my meal before I was completely done. 

Let's look at this now from the dog’s perspective, relating to resource guarding. If a dog is eating their meals and we are constantly hovering over them or in their space, touching them, and taking their item, it will likely create a not-so-good association with that meal (like us in the situation with the over-the-top waiter). 

So, how do we become the “waiter” that our dog wants to request again next time? Here are some ideas: 

• Occassionally toss high-value snacks from across the room while the dog is eating. 

• Be carefree. Avoid being rigid or anxious, as the dog will then feel this way as well.  

• Don’t obsess. We want to teach our dogs that most of the time, we leave them alone while they eat. We sometimes toss them yummy snacks in addition to their meals or a favorite chew. We don’t want the dog to think that every time they eat something, we will be 6 inches away from them. 

• Protect them by being an advocate against kids, other pets, or people who aren’t as dog savvy. I have a busy home, with two young kids, other dogs I pet sit, cats, and a husband. It is general practice for all the animals in my home to be fed in separate spots, unbothered. Even my four indoor cats all have their specific spots they eat from, that the dogs can’t reach. The dogs either eat in crates, pens, separate rooms, or I will feed one out with me if I want to practice a resource guarding prevention session. Having a dog in our home means we need to manage areas of our home to keep everyone happy and safe. Creating tension-free areas where they can eat their food in peace, is part of this. 

A common (and good) question we often receive is “What happens if my dog has something dangerous and I need to take it from them?” Let’s chat about it. 

• If we practice taking items, the dog will assume that sometimes when we are near them, we take something. This often creates more resource guarding due to this expectation. Even if your dog is fine with you taking their item, they are less likely to tolerate this when the item is of higher value, there is a nearby pet, or a nearby person who isn’t their primary handler. 

• Teach a successful “drop it” cue. We often try to apply this cue before having actually taught it. We say “drop it” when the dog already has the forbidden item, and we need to take it from them. The dog likely doesn’t know what this word means, and they will soon have a negative association with the cue if we only use it when they drop the item, and it always gets taken from them. Instead, teach the dog that most of the time, they drop an item, get a treat, and then can continue having that item if they want to. Doing this will teach a dog to willingly drop that forbidden item, as they don’t have the associated stress of us taking the item every time we say “drop it”.  

• Join our Cooperative Care course or otherwise practice body handling when it is nothing but positive, while putting an emphasis on learning and listening to the dog’s body language. This cooperative care course will do many things, one of which is teaching your dog to willingly rest their chin in your hand. A very easy and beneficial way to practice mouth handling is to find a yummy toothpaste that your dog enjoys and brush their teeth every day. 

• Teach an “implied leave it” with the common forbidden items that your dog tends to resource guard or go after. Dogs often like these items due to curiosity and rarity. We try to never have the dog be around the item, but then they feel the item is a treasure. So when they do get the chance to have that item, they are more likely to become possessive. Have specific sessions where you are exposing the dog to that forbidden item, while managing the environment and teaching the dog that better things happen when they don’t try to get the item at all. Place the item on the ground, put the dog on a leash with the handler, and hang out near that item, giving the dog better rewards when they see the item and look up at you. 

My dog, Caliope, has never had a resource guarding issue. I have never practiced taking items from her or constantly been right beside her while she is eating or chewing a snack. I have proactively taught her a “drop it” cue, brush her teeth, and have taught a chin rest in my hand. I have the confidence that if she were to ever have something that is dangerous for her, I could ask her to “drop it” and she would. If the item was stuck in her mouth, like a stick or chicken wing, I am confident that I could open her mouth to retrieve the item because of the positive body handling work I have done with her. 

I hope that this helps you find the balance between proactively preventing resource guarding, while not overdoing it. If you are experiencing resource guarding, don’t hesitate to schedule a 1:1 call or video session with one of us trainers to come up with a game plan for you.