06/03/2026
I've had a few clients recently who have asked for support with resource guarding...so what is it, and what can we do about it?
Resource guarding (RG) is when a dog becomes defensive in order to keep you away from something. This might be a toy, a chew, a place such as a favourite chair and sometimes a person. It can look like growling, snapping, lunging towards the valued item or tensing of the body when someone approaches.
The early, more subtle signs of RG are often missed, so where possible it is important to take action to prevent RG.
So, a few simple rules:
- dog is eating their dinner? Leave them alone.
- dog has a chew? Leave them alone.
- dog has picked up something they shouldn't have? Swap for something of the same or higher value - never steal or take directly from their mouth (unless you absolutely have to in an emergency!)
Remember:
- the dog decides what value the object has to them, not us.
- management is crucial with dogs already showing signs of RG - we need to reduce the risk of having to remove things from their possession; that means keeping things they shouldn't have access to out of their reach or safely away in closed cupboards.
- consider what your dog was bred for - for some dogs, carrying things just feels good. It's in their genes, and getting them to totally stop this behaviour can be punishing, so give them safe alternatives to carry around - think soft toys/old garden shoes etc. (spaniels, I'm looking at you 👀)
If you're struggling with resource guarding, implement the simple rules above to get you started, then please get in touch with a qualified professional for support and to prevent escalation, as the training required for each individual is very different (hence not discussed in this post!)
