Grrrr! How To Stop Resource Guarding?

Does your pooch act out insistently when around specific things like toys, treats, or food? If so, then he may be resource guarding. Watching your dog, adore something, might be cute, but the charm swiftly withers away when your dog starts barking or even biting to guard their possessions. If you want your dog to learn not to guard his food, practice these steps regularly.

Imagine, your Fido is having dinner while you decide to tidy up the place around. You are about to get your hands to his favourite toy, but as you bend down to grab it your pup starts growling. Angrily. At you, the provider of love, affection, food, and shelter. “What’s going on?” You think to yourself. This can cause an intense feeling of fear.

This is actually called resource guarding. I know because my dog, Momo is enormously restless and timid and shows guarding behaviours for various resources. Full disclosure: I’m no expert here. I’m an inquisitive owner of a slightly troubled dog who wishes to take a deeper dive with you on how to stop resource guarding.

Resource guarding is when a dog becomes overly defensive in order to keep you away from a specific item that they treasure. When you go near or try to take something from them, that they value, they might growl, or bite. It is a prized character for feral dogs because it allows them to survive on limited means in the wild. But it’s not such a great quality for house-trained animals.