Resource guarding, a behaviour commonly observed in dogs, refers to behaviour aimed at maintaining control over food or possessions in the presence of people or other animals. According to a study conducted in 2018 by the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, resource guarding involves the use of avoidance, threatening gestures, or outright aggression by a dog to retain control of food or non-food items (Jacobs et. al.,2018). Understanding the intricacies of resource guarding is essential for cultivating a harmonious relationship with your canine companion.
Behavioural Spectrum of Resource Guarding
Resource guarding encompasses a spectrum of behaviours in dogs including:
Avoidance Behaviour: Dogs may attempt to move away or hide with the item in question, sometimes ingesting it quickly to prevent others from taking it. This behaviour can also manifest as the dog grabbing an item and retreating to a secluded spot.
Threatening Gestures: Growling, baring teeth, or freezing in place are common signals used by dogs to deter others from approaching their resources. These gestures serve as warnings to potential intruders.
Aggressive Displays: In more intense situations, dogs may resort to aggressive displays such as snapping, snarling, lunging, or biting. These behaviours are indicative of a heightened level of perceived threat to the dog’s resources.
Factors Influencing Resource Guarding
Several factors can influence resource guarding behaviours:
Relationship Dynamics: The nature of the relationship between the dog and its owner or other animals can significantly impact the extent of resource guarding behaviours. Trust and security play crucial roles in mitigating resource guarding tendencies.
Past Experiences: Dogs may exhibit resource guarding as a result of past trauma, deprivation, or stressful experiences. Previous instances of food scarcity or competition may contribute to heightened guarding behaviours.
Genetic Predispositions: Certain breeds may have a genetic predisposition towards resource guarding behaviours. Understanding breed-specific tendencies can aid in effectively addressing and managing resource guarding.
Learned Behaviours: Dogs may learn to guard resources based on past interactions or reinforcement. In some cases, inadvertent reinforcement of guarding behaviours by owners e.g. chasing the dog does with items may exacerbate the issue.
Items Dog Guard
Dogs may guard a wide range of items, including:
- Food
- Toys
- Territory
- People
- Resting
- Areas
- Entrances
- Personal Possessions (such as their own hair when shedding)
Recognizing Resource Guarding
Resource guarding behaviours can vary and can be overt or quite subtle:
- Growling, snarling, or barking
- Rapid ingestion or attempts to conceal items
- Subtle body language cues such as stiffening or freezing
- Submissive postures e.g., low rapid wags, macaroni shaped body, submissive grin, ears back, flipping on back etc., indicating social discomfort or anxiety
Dispelling Myths about Resource Guarding
Contrary to popular belief, resource guarding is not always a display of dominance or fear. Attempting to forcibly take items from a dog can worsen the situation and may lead to escalated aggression and trading for higher value items in some cases can create an escalating cycle of distrust and conflict in the relationship. Resource guarding behaviours are complex and multifaceted, often stemming from a combination of factors including past experiences, genetics, social and spatial dynamics, developmental and environmental influences.
Seeking Help in Calgary and Beyond?
Need some help? Resource guarding behaviours can be addressed with our reactive dog training programs in Calgary. We also have online learning options that take a nuance, extremely effective systems thinking approach to this behaviour. Even if you’ve tried typical ways to correct this behaviour, such as trading, desensitization, counter-conditioning, or aversives, to no avail, we can help with our innovative systems thinking approach. Please get in touch to discuss the best choices for your specific situation.
Works Cited
Jacobs, J. A., Coe, J. B., Widowski, T. M., Pearl, D. L., & Niel, L. (2018). Defining and clarifying the terms canine possessive aggression and resource guarding: A study of expert opinion. Frontiers in veterinary science, 5, 115.
