Resource Guarding: What It Is & How to Handle It

"You shouldn’t bother a dog while they’re eating." This common advice comes from the fact that dogs naturally protect what they value most, especially food. But resource guarding is more than just mealtime behaviour.

What Is Resource Guarding?

Resource guarding happens when a dog tries to protect something they see as valuable, such as food, toys, beds, furniture, or even a person, by growling, snapping, or showing other warning behaviours. It is their way of saying, "This is mine. Back off."While it is instinctive, it can become a problem if a dog starts showing aggression toward people, particularly if it leads to biting.

What Does It Look Like?Resource guarding can vary in intensity and in what the dog chooses to protect:

• Commonly guarded items: food, treats, toys, beds, furniture, themselves, or even you
  

• Typical behaviours: stiffening, growling, snarling, snapping, biting
  

• Situations: some dogs only guard items they are holding, while others guard an area around the item
  

• Targets: guarding can be directed at people, other dogs, or both

Remember that growling is a warning. Do not punish your dog for growling, as this may make them skip the warning and go straight to biting.

Why Children Are at Greater Risk

Children often carry toys or snacks at dog level, do not recognize warning signs, and may try to grab guarded items. Because of their height, bites to children are more likely to affect the face and upper body, which can lead to serious injury.

What You Can Do

Create Positive Associations

• While your dog eats, toss high-value treats such as chicken into their bowl

• Hand-feed occasionally to build trust and positive connections with people

Teach “Drop It” or “Give”

1. Start with a low-value item, like a cardboard roll

2. Show your dog a tasty treat to encourage them to release it

3. Reward immediately

4. Add the verbal cue “drop it” or “give” once the behaviour is consistent

5. Practice trading boring items first, then move on to higher-value items

Respect Guarded Items or Spaces

• Remove specific toys until your dog learns to give up less valuable items first

• Block access to guarded locations like couches or beds until training progresses

Management Tips

• Keep high-value items out of reach when unsupervised

• Do not chase your dog if they grab something as they may see it as a game or a threat

• Use baby gates or separate feeding areas in multi-dog homes

• If your dog guards you, give them space to build confidence independently

When to Get Professional Help

Speak with a veterinary behaviourist or positive reinforcement trainer if your dog:

• Growls, snaps, or bites when approached

• Shows increasing aggression or frustration

• Lives with children or you feel unsafe

Key Points to Remember

• Resource guarding is normal but must be managed

• Never punish growling, it is a warning, not misbehaviour

• Always trade up so your dog gets something better in return

• Start training with low-value items and gradually progress to higher-value items

• Prevention is easier than correction, so start early and go slow

• Keep training positive, calm, and consistent