Resource guarding

Resource guarding is a common behavioural issue in dogs. This struggle presents as possessive behaviour over items such as food, toys, people or even spaces like beds and furniture.

This behaviour can range from mild growling or stiffening when approached to more severe displays of snapping or even biting. Resource guarding stems from a dog's inability to disengage from resources it perceives as limited or threatened.

Reward-based, force-free, positive reinforcement training methods offer effective solutions to address resource guarding in dogs. Positive training focuses on reinforcing desirable behaviours instead of punishment or forceful methods, which can escalate the problem and damage the dog-guardian bond. 

For instance, using higher-value food or a favourite toy as a reward for willingly relinquishing an item teaches the dog that giving up possessions results in positive outcomes. Guardians would also teach life skills such as calmness and disengagement to gradually modify the dog's behaviour by replacing possessiveness with trust and cooperation. 

Consistency and patience are essential in this process. They ensure the dog learns to associate moving away from potential valuable resources with positive experiences, reducing the likelihood of guarding behaviour over time.