Resource Guarding, and what it looks like.

WHAT IS RESOURCE GUARDING?
Resource guarding is normal dog behaviour, it refers to a dog displaying certain behaviours in order
to ward off any dog/ human or another animal, to please stay away. Anything that your dog may find
highly valuable such as food, a toy, a place they sleep or even a person can be regarded as the resource.

WHAT DOES RESOURCE GUARDING LOOK LIKE?

Signs of resource guarding are often missed very early.

• Lowering their head over the item
• Freezing over the item
• Running away with the item
• Quickly ingesting the item
• Hiding away with the item
• Refusing to give up the item

HOW DO WE PREVENT RESOURCE GUARDING?

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF!!!!!
Please stop taking food/toys/chews away from your dog unnecessarily. This teaches your dog
nothing other than your approach means that the resource could be taken away.

KEEP YOUR HANDS OUT OF THEIR FOOD BOWL!!!!!!

Please stop sticking your hands in your dog’s food bowl, in theory, it is ideal, but a lot of theories
never planned out – and the reality of this one is that it only irritates your dog and let’s be honest,
we don’t like anyone reaching over to our plates and fiddling with our food.

SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO INSTEAD?

Play the TRADE GAME or GIVE YOUR DOG PEACE!
When your dog has something that he should not have we need to teach them to come to us with
the item so we can swop it out instead!

If you have more serious resource guarding issues, you will need to contact a qualified animal behaviourist, who uses force free and kind methods.

Love and Encouragement
Andy