Resource Guarding between dogs is a big topic. It’s also one of the most requested for me to cover on my podcast. Over the past week, my six month old puppy has started attacking some of the other dogs in my household over resources. It’s a good time for me to share what I am doing to help This! overcome possession aggression around resources, particularly food. Yes, even professional dog trainers experience challenges to work through.
In the episode you'll hear:
- About the two forms of resource guarding, against humans and against dogs.
- Why dogs resource guard.
- What I’ve seen with my puppy This! guarding resources against other dogs.
- The signs to look for that show a dog could be resource guarding.
- My previous experiences with my dogs and resource guarding.
- The two approaches to take and why one can result in an all-out aggressive dog.
- What NOT to do about resource guarding.
- The reason discipline and corrections are like putting gasoline on a fire.
- About fear periods in puppies and why to stay grounded and calm.
- The reason to get appropriate help from a qualified Veterinary Behaviorist.
- What I am doing about resource guarding to help my puppy.
- How I am journaling what happens every day, the good and not so good.
- About identifying and removing triggers and creating a safe environment.
- Why to keep your dog under threshold.
- All the elements to help your dog and why to email us about joining Recallers.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 45: My Dog Just Got Jumped, Now What?
- *Book: Mine! A Practical Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs by Jean Donaldson
- Podcast Episode 59: Why Your Treats Aren’t Working for Your Dog
- Game: Learn How to Play ItsYerChoice (IYC)
- Susan's Team: wag@dogsthat.com
- Recallers
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
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Susan only recommends products she uses herself, and all opinions expressed here are her own. The link above is an affiliate link that, at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you decide to buy from it. Thank you!
I need help! My 5 month old English Cream Golden is resource guarding her food bowl and any food related item!
I need help
Thank you! I have an 8-month old rescue puppy from Mexico (we got her at 5 months already spayed). We have been doing Crate Games, Home School the Dog, and now Recallers. I work at home part of the time and then she goes to Doggy Day care 3 days a week for 5-6 hours a day. Anyway, I decided to take a beginning Obedience class with her because she likes to lunge at other dogs and men when on a leash. I am finding out that she is wants to resource guard against the other dogs that are drawn to our area because I am bringing the lots of the BEST treats and their owners are bringing basically no treats. So I am not sure if she is resource guarding me or the treats. Now I don’t want to finish the class because we are way ahead of them because of all our online study. Definitely going with middle of the road treats next week.
I was hoping this podcast would cover resource guarding people. One of my three dogs has had health issues for several months and she has been on crate rest with restricted activity for 3 1/2 months. She can’t take a walk except to potty. She can’t be loose in the house. No “killing” toys, no tug, no chasing a ball, etc. so she has become completely dependent on my husband and me for any joy or pleasure in life. He provides a willing and accessible lap. We both provide food. I provide what limited play and trick training she can do and her exercises she is supposed to do for the health problem. So we are her “everything” at this time. She has taken to growling at the other dogs when they get close to whichever of us is holding her at the time. Aside from that problem she has been taking her convalescence very well and it didn’t start until a few weeks ago. We are desperate to find a way of dealing with this. I am also wondering how to handle re-introducing her to family life once her time in her “sickroom” is over. (We have an x-pen set up in the LR with a comfy bed, rug, and food mat.) Any help or suggestions you can offer are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
This is one of my all time favorite podcasts on resource guarding!!!!
I have an 8 month old Australian Shepherd who resource guards against people. He does this only with what he considers high value resources: our socks and beef bones. He will stiffen up or growl if we try to take one of those things away from him. He will “trade” on command for a higher value treat. Is this the right approach? We try to keep socks out of reach and beef bones are now off the menu. We are currently going through the Recallers program.
How do you deal with resource guarding a bed? It is especially during the morning, but lots of times my one dog will guard the bed so the other cannot come on it. So the bed is the trigger, but how do you take that away??
How many journals do you have per dog? Are these journals different then the training/relationship/planning journal?
If your dog shows resource guarding and you ask her to Go to the hot zone do you and reward her how do you know you are not reinforcing the Cycle of behaviour……
I think my standard poodle is resource guarding me or the house when I call the dogs to come in he tries to block the other two dogs from getting to the house or to me
He will also grab their feet and I thought maybe this was some sort of herding Instinct and a poodle.
Anyway my other two dogs don’t like it at all. They are older and he’s done this since he was a puppy them.
So I have to go outside and distract him to let them in the house
If I’ve made the mistake of disciplining and having to physically remove my one adolescent/young adult from the other am I able to fix it the way Susan says in her podcast?
For follow up: resource guarding in older dogs. this will be different as it is now either a solidly learned behaviour and or genetics coming out. Managing vs rehabilitating?
Both. So important to manage an older dog, and be very aware of those triggers as Susan says. You can also rehabilitate and improve the situation.
Perhaps along a similar theme you could address dog play manners. What does proper dog play look like? How do you know if your young adult rescue was socialized properly? Can he be socialized as an adult and how is it done? Before I found Susan Garrett and Recallers I took my 2-3 yr old rescue to the dog park not realizing that was a bad idea. By the 5th visit I was getting stink eye from other owners as mine had gone from chase to picking fights, body slamming and humping. That was the end of the dog park or any kind of dog play. Now 3 years later and 2 years of Recallers under my belt I’m wondering if he can play nicely with others. He whines when he sees the neighborhood dogs he knows and seems to want to play. On the other hand, he body slams my sons when he’s excited to see them. Suggestions?
I need help!
I have two Mudi females; one of which is 7 years old and one of which is not quite 5. We have two other dogs (male American Eskimos. We have to crate and rotate. The Eskies do not get along with each other; but it does not escalate.
The Mudi do not.
Fekete is a resource guarder (she resource guards food against other dogs, my daughter and myself, against dogs and people, and her yard against both dogs and people).
Praliné resource guards her yard and is a bully. She is also very fearful.
Fekete and Praliné tolerated each other until Praliné’s second heat. Since then they hate each other. They have been in over 5 dog fights that if we had not gotten to them within minutes of each other would have resulted in someone dying. As it is my daughter and myself have been bitten once when breaking up the fight.
Praliné has issues including fearfulness. I have thought about rehoming her for her sake; but the one woman that I thought about giving her to wanted to breed her every year; and we are the only stable home she has ever known. It would have to be someone I could trust and that knew how to handle her before I would place her. She can be aggressive towards other dogs. She is mostly good in public, but very fearful.
Fekete is good with us and can even behave in public with care; but she does not like other dogs and has nipped at a person when she got scared one time. So rehoming her cannot happen.
Good Morning Mona,
Susan shares in the podcast a few resources ~ seeking guidance from a Veterinarian Behaviourist – starting with your own Vet to help you navigate the process. Susan chooses this route so that if medical intervention is required you have that as a first introduction resources.
She offers Jean Donaldson’s experience through her book Mine and then contacting our team for consideration in joining Recallers.
Here is two other excellent resource from Susan for Fekete/ Praline and your learning:
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2018/06/body-language-fear-and-aggression/
https://susangarrettdogagility.com/2020/08/your-dogs-temp/
My springer has started guarding the sofa or possibly me (I can’t tell) against or other dog….do I just keep them both off our sofa and reward them fir this?
Please do a follow up I currently have a rescued sheltie who exhibits aggressive behavior I am working with a veterinarian behaviorist. We are using some medication but he is still reactive fear based. Not sure what happened to him just want to help him. He is 7 is very smart enjoys all sorts of training and is picking up things very quickly ow. I am already in Recallers and love it. I just want him to be more relaxed. Thanks for all you do.
Of your dog shows resource guarding and you ask her to Go to the hot zone do you can reward her hoe do you know you are not reinforcing the Cycle of behaviour……
All of your videos are wonderfully presented and helpful. Though I’ve had dogs and trained them since very young ,this last one is the most challenging!
Thanks, Carole
I love the systematic method you have outlined. I have used and taught in a similar fashion, but this is well organized and non-trainer trainers can do it.
Such a brilliant video thank you Susan, as always!❤️ My two year old standard poodle has started to guard me from other dogs (but not from my four year old golden doodle female, thank goodness). I am a Recallers alumni but I am embarrassed to say that I did not finish the program. I should have. I learned so very much and my dogs are so incredibly well-behaved that people think I’m some kind of gifted “dog whisperer”😄. I know in my heart of hearts that I should’ve “taken it all the way home” though, and finished the program in it’s entirety…for my sake but especially for my dogs’ sake. I will always feel guilty about that. They love to work and I just dropped the ball (pun intended). Anyway, thank you for giving me useful information in order to work through this problem rather than brushing it under the rug!
We have these issues with our 2 yr old labradoodle, and have been aware since around 3 mths old, I’ve been trying to swap out what he’s guarding (bones, high level food etc.) with high level treats, I thought I was making progress but then I noticed about 6 mths ago, he’s guarding me, growling & lunging at other dogs when he’s on a lead (thankfully he has been). Is 2yrs old too old for me to now manage or do you think I need professional help?
my dog will growl at the other when he is sitting in my lap
so no more lap sitting??
Thanks for all you do to educate dog parents everywhere using positive, science-based, training methods!
Thank you! I have a 2 yr old mini Aussie who will resource guard a certain chew treat from our 22 mo toy Aussie. So I have been putting those chew bars up and they can enjoy them in their crates when I am busy cleaning or watching tv. All other toys and chews they share with no issues. No yelling at her and no punishment just you can enjoy it later in your space. Hope I am on the right path.
Thank you Susan. Best thing I have heard on Resource Guarding .
Best programme ever. I’ve been through trainers privately, dog schools, and seminars. This programme will get you and your dog/pup on the right track. It gives you such a great foundation.
Are you going to do one with dog vs human guarding? Or, is this best left for a certified vet behaviourist.
Yes, do a follow up with This!
Thanks for the podcast Susan, it couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve noticed my 8month old BC has started charging and snapping at my 4 yr old BC, especially where there’s food. He’s also started doing it to the cats. I have to be honest and say I did act negatively but now I know more I (hopefully) will be able to remain calm and let him know it’s ok.
Thank you for sharing & the excellent options you’ve provided. I will have them ready for my next pup. My now 11yo ESS was a food resource guarder to dogs & people during his adolescence for a short period. Never since then. Never was yelled at or punished for it. I did have Jean D’s book, Mine & others. Fed from a bowl in my hand singing or laughing & also dropped better food in bowl in hand & on the floor as he was eating, progressed to petting or laying a hand on his back as he was eating & add better food. Quiet, light-hearted, evaluate & patience. He learned I’d keep his food bowl safe from other dogs so he didn’t have to. Now he sometimes has trouble getting the raw food out of his square lunch dish & I can go right in & help him. He’s a total love-bug.💕
Thank you for this information! I have a rescue bc that is triggered by other dogs over toys and general excitement. I’m very interested in your continued work with your puppy, This! Please do a follow-up podcast on her progress. Thank you!
I’ve never had a resource guarder …but now I know what to do if the problem develops. Thank you for another terrific podcast. 🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪
Excellent !! Helps keep me on tract with the process of adolescent behaviors. I live getting to follow the puppy journey as I am traveling it as well.
What if the dog is guarding me.
Excellent video. I learned a lot especially about Xena and understand her better. I also am more aware of the preliminary behaviours now that trigger her to resource guarding and will take better preventive steps👍🏽
Thank you
I need help
Hi Marilyn, our email address is wag@dogsthat.com – we’ll help!