Hannah asks
My dog is guarding their toys, what should I do?How do I stop my dog resource guarding? (step-by-step)
A how-to guide to address guarding
1
Keep everyone safe. This might mean using crates, dog gates or pens to separate the dog from people when they have something they might guard. This is particularly important if you have children in the home.
2
Stop taking things away from your dog by force. Every time you do this, you could be making their guarding behaviour worse.
3
Remember how the dog feels when a person is near their stuff. Guarding generally comes from a place of fear – a negative emotion. To improve their emotional state, try throwing something tasty towards them when they have something they might guard. Then move away. The more you do this, the more you’ll see the dog relax and start looking forward to your approach.
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There’s no way of knowing how long it will take for your dog to become more relaxed. It depends how long they’ve been guarding.
4
Try teaching them to “drop” or “leave it” (watch our video on “leave it” to see how to do this). You may also want to work on “off”, to get them off the furniture, and “go to your bed” so you can move them out of the way safely.
5
Do not tell your dog off for growling or snapping. They’re not being naughty, they’re communicating their feelings. Punishing them can make them more worried about people approaching, making the guarding worse.
6
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Learn to read your dog’s body language. Classic signs of guarding are stillness, stiffening and tightening the face. Your dog may also hide under the table, run away with something or even try to swallow it.
Teach your dog to swap. If your dog has something you need to take from them, then trade with them. Offer something they’ll like better to help them avoid that feeling of loss when you take your item back.
Never punish your dog for guarding. It doesn't help them feel better about you taking their stuff, and it may make them more defensive or dangerous in the future.
More information
Owners can create guarding problems by taking things out of their young dog's mouth. Gun dogs particularly like picking things up when they’re puppies and often guard later on because of this.
If you have a puppy who likes to pick things up, let them show it to you and keep it (if they’re not going to damage it or hurt themselves). Or you can swap it for something much nicer – like their favourite toy or a tasty treat!
What your dog might be feeling
I’m very worried about someone taking my things. I feel very strongly about my toys, my person and my food, and I want to be left alone when I have them. I give you clear signals when I ask for space. If you ignore me I’ll growl – and I might even bite.
Three things you can do today
Give your dog space
Put up some barriers, like a gate, pen or crate to make sure your dog can be left alone when they have a prized item.
Build positive associations
Throw your dog some tasty food when they have something they might guard, then retreat. Never go closer than your dog is comfortable with.
Get support
Find a qualified professional to support you with your dog’s guarding. Check out www.abtc.co.uk.
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