Can Resource Guarding in Dogs Be Cured? Yes, It’s Possible!

I had a brush with the very scary tendency of resource guarding in dogs when our adopted GSD, Prince, became so overly possessive of me that he started raising his heckles and baring his teeth if anyone approached me while I was with him or when I stepped out of the house. He was 4 when we took him in and the poor thing had been neglected, abused, and ultimately abandoned by the roadside by his original human family. 

Perhaps, I was the first real touch of love he ever received in his life and he tethered to me right from the start. However, this bond quickly began to border on possessive aggression. I had every reason to be very, very scared of it, considering I had a three-year-old toddler at the time. So, I began researching about this dog behavior that I had hitherto not seen up close. 

It became evident pretty quickly that my dog resource guards me. However, identifying the problem was only the beginning of my quest. It only led to more questions. Can resource guarding in dogs be cured? Will resource guarding training even prove effective in an adult dog? Since there was a history of abuse and a tendency of distrust at play as well, the odds seemed stacked against us. But with the right professional help, research, and lots of patience we were able to overcome resource guarding to a large extent. In this article, I share all those learnings with you to help you deal with dog possessive aggression. 

What is Resource Guarding? 

What I have described is a classic case of dogs resource guarding humans — or a dog resource guarding a favorite human being, you could say. However, this behavior pattern isn’t just limited to dog behavior around humans. A dog can exhibit possession aggression for their belongings, their human companions, or even other pets in the house. 

Likewise, this form of canine aggression can be directed toward humans as well as other animals. For instance, if there are other pets in the house — especially if they have been recently added to the family — you may witness resource guarding dog-to-dog. Or your pet may try to guard you from another dog, be it another pet or an outside dog. 

As you can see, resource guarding in dogs is a complex phenomenon and that is why it’s imperative to understand it well to be able to deal with it effectively. So, what is resource guarding really? It is a protective response or an act of self-preservation when dogs feel threatened as someone or something comes near their possessions.

A dog may feel that they’re about to love a valuable resource and respond accordingly to prevent it. Picture this: You see your dog shredding their favorite chew toy to bits. Worried that they may swallow the tiny pieces, you try to remove the toy or its pieces from their vicinity and your dog reacts by growling, baring his/her front teeth, or even lunging and biting. That’s an example of resource guarding in a dog protective over toys. 

Or, your dog is lazying on his bed and you try to scooch in to give him some pets. To your surprise, your action is met with a stare, a low growl, or an uninterested body language such as your dog moving away from you. That’s your dog guarding his bed. And of course, then there is the more well-known version of it, food guarding.

Resource guarding in dogs doesn’t always entail growling or biting, it can also be a hard cold stare, raising of heckles, or slight baring of teeth. But in whatever form this behavior is exhibited, it is enough to send a chill down your spine.   

Applied animal behaviorist Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D., describes resource guarding in dogs as “any behavior that discourages another to take, or get too close to, an object or valued area in the dog’s possession.” 

Resource guarding in dogs with humans and other dogs is a normal, instinctive behavior but it is certainly not desirable. If your dog is prepared to get aggressive or go to the extent of biting to protect their prized possession, even the most routine situations can turn dangerous quickly. It is a serious problem. Food guarding, toy guarding, leash guarding, place guarding, or owner guarding can all result in dog bites as well as fights between pets, resulting in bites and other injuries. 

The situation becomes even more worrisome if you have young children at home. As I mentioned, my daughter was three when we had Prince in our lives, and I remember watching her like a hawk, making sure she didn’t go anywhere near him when he was playing with his chewy bone or eating. And I would never leave her unattended around him even for a couple of minutes. That gets too taxing too quickly. 

That’s why it’s so important to get a handle on resource guarding in dogs with humans or pets as soon as possible.

Take a look at this video:

We’ll get to how you can do it, but first, let’s look at the signs your dog is resorting to resource guarding. 

Signs of resource guarding

Whether you’re dealing with resource guarding in dogs with humans or resource guarding dog-to-dog, the possession aggression behaviors are more or less the same. Here are some signs of resource guarding you need to keep an eye out for:

• Growling 
• Lunging 
• Snapping (a no-contact bite) 
• Baring teeth 
• Biting 

However, signs of guarding behavior aren’t always this intense. In milder cases of canine aggression for protecting their possessions or when the behavior is just developing, you may notice certain subtle behaviors like: 

• Freezing (taking a pause and displaying tense body language) 
• Moving away from the source of the threat 
• Eating faster if it’s a case of food guarding or holding on to a toy harder 
• Protecting the item with a braced body position 
• Tracking the movements of the person or another pet approaching 
• Hard stare 
• Ears pinned flat 
• Hiding (under a bed, table, chair, or couch) with the item they’re trying to protect 

Unfortunately, a lot of pet parents fail to recognize these subtle or early signs of guarding behavior in dogs because they are not trained to. It often takes a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist to be able to spot resource guarding early on and prevent it from escalating. So, if you do spot these behaviors — or any unusual tendencies your pet has started displaying to prevent something valuable to them — it’s vital to seek professional help as soon as possible. 

What Causes Resource Guarding in Dogs

As I said, resource guarding in dogs is a natural, instinctive animal behavior. Even so, not every dog displays this behavior. So, what are the triggers for this behavior? When I was befuddled by the whole “my dog resource guards me” realization, it was easy to connect the dots and see that this possessive, aggressive behavior was because he felt anxious about being abandoned again. There was a whole history of abuse and neglect that this behavior could be attributed to. 

However, it’s not always this clear-cut. You may have to delve deeper to understand the reasons behind dog resource guarding a favorite human being, a toy, or his belongings like food bowls and bed. Here are some probable causes: 

1. Genetics

A dog’s genetics may govern their tendency to resource guard. Certain breeds (breed mixes) are more predisposed to guarding behavior. Some of the common resource guarding dog breeds are German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels, and surprise, surprise, Chihuahuas. However, genetics play a role only to some extent. With the right resource guarding training right from the start, you can weed out this form of canine aggression easily. I have raised 4 German Shepherds, and as you can see, they’re at the top of the list of resource guarding dog breeds. But I didn’t have this problem with the babies I raised from puppyhood, only with the pet who came into our lives when he was already an adult.

2. A history of resource scarcity 

This is a reason I can relate to the most because I saw it up close with Prince. Growing up in homes or environments with a lack of resources can heighten guarding behavior in dogs. That said, it’s not a blanket rule that if a dog has grown up in scarcity, he/she will display guarding aggression. There are so many instances where there is no resource guarding in dogs with humans or other pets/dogs even after years of neglect and resource scarcity. Then, some dogs grow up with an abundance of everything and still guard food, belongings, other items, and even their humans.  

3. Stressful situations 

Stress can be a surefire contributor to resource guarding behavior in dogs. If a dog is feeling insecure, they’re more likely to protect their valuable possession more fiercely. This stress or anxiousness can be brought on by changes in the home environment, such as guests, the addition of a new family member (either human or pet), or even stressful events like fireworks. For instance, if there is a new pet or baby in the house, you may notice a dog resource guarding a favorite human being. Or you may observe a dog protective over toys if there are other children or dogs in the house. 

4. Attachment or value 

If your pet is deeply attached to something or sees inherent value in it, he/she is likely to guard it with everything they’ve got. So, you may see dogs resource guarding humans they’re deeply bonded with. Or your dog guarding his bed from new people/pets he doesn’t trust yet. Of course, the most common example is food guarding in dogs. What a dog finds valuable can vary but that sense of vitality can bring out their protective streak, which may lead to guarding behavior.

5. Unmet physical and mental needs 

Just like us humans, our canine companions have certain needs that must be met for them to thrive. Typically, these include food, water, regular exercise, mental stimulation, love and affection. Unmet needs can lead to behavioral issues in dogs, resource guarding is one of them. 

Now these unmet needs can be long-term, such as persistent lack of nourishment and exercise, or short-term, such as feeling hungry, thirsty, or tired. Both can bring out undesirable behaviors, the only difference is that if it’s triggered by an immediate need, the behavior can resolve once that need is met (even so, such behavior should be immediately discouraged). And if it is stemming from long-term unmet needs, it can become a pattern

6. Poor health 

If your otherwise happy-go-lucky dog has suddenly started displaying possessive aggression, there could be underlying medical issues at play. Being in pain can make your pet irritable and cause him/her to lash out. If the change is sudden and inexplicable, a visit to the vet is warranted. 

7. Feeling threatened 

Often, resource guarding in dogs can be a response to a person or another pet’s actions. If a dog is fearful that a valuable possession can be taken away from them — because they’ve seen it happen in the past — they might display guarding behavior to prevent it. For instance, if another pet takes a dog’s chewy toy away from them once, he/she is likely to snap the next time that pet approaches their beloved toy. 

How to Stop Resource Guarding in Dogs

We’ve talked about all there is to discuss vis-à-vis resource guarding in dogs with humans and other pets/animals. Now let’s get to the most important part: how to stop resource guarding dog-to-dog as well as dog-to-humans. In an ideal world, we’d be able to use resource guarding training to nip this tendency before it starts. However, if you’re here reading about guarding behavior and canine aggression, it’s safe to assume that you’re past that point. So, what can you do to stop your pet from resource guarding? Is it even possible? And can you do it yourself? 

Well, yes, and yes. It’s possible to stop your dog — yes, even an adult dog — from exhibiting training behavior. Whether you can do it yourself or need a qualified dog behaviorist and trainer depends on two factors: the severity of the problem, and your experience as a pet parent. If you do decide to handle the situation on your own, here’s what you need to know:

Resource guarding dog-to-dog 

If it’s a dog-to-dog situation you’re dealing with, first and foremost, you need to make sure that the behavior amounts to resource guarding. In a multi-dog household, ritualized aggression — an ebb and flow of certain resource-guarding behaviors — is part of the conversations your canine companions have. However, when push comes to shove, they may not follow it up with true aggression because it carries risk and most dogs want to avoid it as far as possible. 

However, if your dog does cross that line or escalates resource guarding behaviors from subtle to intense, here is how you can deal with the situation:   

• If your dog resorts to food guarding around the other pet/s in the house, you must start feeding them in separate rooms. This helps assuage the feelings of insecurity and anxiousness 
• Make sure there is an equitable distribution of resources between your pets. Make sure your pets have adequate treats, toys, and food, so they don’t feel the need to guard their resources 
• If there is a particular item that your dog gets aggressively possessive about, remove it from the equation when it is safe for you to do so (that is when your pet isn’t engaging with it or around it)
• Work toward creating a more positive emotional response in situations that usually trigger possessive aggression in your pet (more on that later)

Resource guarding in dogs with humans 

In the case of resource guarding in dogs with humans, taking certain corrective measures — along with addressing the undesirable behavior, of course — is essential.  Here are some things you, as a pet parent, must practice (and get others in the family to) to prevent resource-guarding behaviors from escalating: 

• Don’t punish your dog when they exhibit signs of resource guarding behavior 
• Don’t play with their chews and toys 
• Don’t try to forcefully take a chew or toy from your dog 
• Don’t disturb them when they’re eating. If there are young children in the family, it’s crucial to teach them to leave your dog alone during mealtimes 
• Don’t let items your dog tends to guard lying around 

Resource Guarding Training

Whatever we have discussed so far can help mitigate the triggers that cause your dog to resort to guarding behavior. But the goal here is to reverse this behavior pattern. That’s where resource guarding training comes in. 

Important note: Before we get into what it entails, I’d like to reiterate that it can be helpful to consult a certified dog trainer or behaviorist to help assess the situation and pave a roadmap for you.

If you’d like to be informed about resource guarding training or if you’ve spotted the signs early on and feel confident that you can handle it on your own, let’s take a look at what it entails. Resource guarding training is centered on counterconditioning and desensitization. Essentially, you want to change your dog’s perspective on what they see as a threat and change the way they respond. Remember, counterconditioning and desensitization can be a long-drawn-out process and its success hinges on consistency and repetition. 

Here’s how you can train a dog protective over toys, belongings, a human, or food, to stop guarding their valued possession with aggression: 

• Find a high-value treat that your dog loves more than the object/person they are guarding. This can be homemade treats, small pieces of chicken, or a bone
• Be aware of the threshold distance — the distance at which your dog starts showing signs of aggression. This can vary immensely, some dogs show guarding behavior as you approach them when they’re engaged with an object of value while others may exhibit signs of aggression even if you (or the person/animal they’re guarding an object from) is in the same room. So, it’s important to be sure of when your dog gets triggered 
• Give your dog the high-value object they tend to guard (this could be a chew, a toy, or their food), and walk away 
• After some time, approach your dog but stop short of the threshold distance. From there, toss them a piece of the high-value treat you intend to use for resource guarding training. And allow them to finish eating it
• Repeat this process a few times, then turn and leave. 
• Continue doing this every time your dog has an object they guard 
• After a few sessions, take a step beyond the threshold distance, toss the treat as you have been, and take a step back. Repeat a few times, and then leave. This is how you start reducing the threshold distance, so it’s a crucial process in breaking the pattern of guarding behavior. Don’t rush it 
• Gradually, keep adding a step forward to close in on the threshold distance. If, at any point, your dog shows signs of guarding behavior, go back to the previous step in the training process

In addition to this, you must work on teaching your dog the ‘leave it’ cue and going to an assigned place on cue. Perhaps, you may even have to consider crate training an older dog to minimize the risk of any untoward incident until you have a handle on their resource guarding behavior. Breaking behavior patterns, especially in adult dogs, can be hard. You have to be prepared for the fact that resource guarding training will be a painstakingly slow process. But if you stick with it, the results will be well worth the effort.