Resource Guarding: Food, Toys and Places

Guarding is normal behaviour driven by anxiety about losing something valuable. It is extremely common in rescued street dogs, for obvious reasons.

Do not take things away to 'show who is boss'

Repeatedly removing food or toys confirms the dog's fear and escalates guarding from a freeze to a growl to a bite.

Approach, throw something better than what the dog has, and walk away. Repeat until your approach predicts good things rather than loss.

Feed in a separate room. Remove high-value chews when children are around. Management prevents rehearsal and rehearsal is what entrenches it.

Guarding that involves children, or that has already produced a bite, needs a qualified behaviourist rather than internet advice.

Guarding is normal behaviour driven by anxiety about losing something valuable. It is extremely common in rescued street dogs, for obvious reasons.

Repeatedly removing food or toys confirms the dog's fear and escalates guarding from a freeze to a growl to a bite.

Approach, throw something better than what the dog has, and walk away. Repeat until your approach predicts good things rather than loss.

Feed in a separate room. Remove high-value chews when children are around. Management prevents rehearsal and rehearsal is what entrenches it.

Guarding that involves children, or that has already produced a bite, needs a qualified behaviourist rather than internet advice.