Let’s Talk Resource Guarding: Listening to Your Dog Changes Everything 🦴

Rachael Haddan
Jan 1
2 min read

Resource guarding is one of those topics that often brings up fear, confusion, or strong opinions. But at its core, it’s really about communication, emotion, and safety.

Tonight, my own 6-year-old dog gave me a great reminder of that.

She was happily chewing on a bone when I looked at her and spoke to her. In response, she grumbled softly and moved away with her bone.

She wasn’t being “bad.”

She wasn’t being “dominant.”

She was simply communicating discomfort.

What I did next might surprise some people.

What I Did (And Why)

Instead of correcting her, taking the bone, or telling her “no,” I calmly stood up, grabbed a handful of treats, and tossed them to her.

Here’s the science and reasoning behind that choice:

1. I wanted to create a positive association

I want my dog to learn that when I approach or talk to her while she has something valuable, good things happen. Not loss. Not conflict. Not pressure.

2. I value our relationship

Trust is built through repeated experiences where a dog feels safe. Preserving that trust matters more than “winning” a moment.

3. I avoided turning it into a negative situation

Corrections, staring, reaching, or grabbing can quickly escalate stress. I chose calm, predictable reinforcement instead.

4. This is how emotional learning works

Dogs don’t just learn through consequences—they learn through associations. By pairing my presence with food, I’m changing how her brain feels about me being nearby.

What Happened Next

After tossing the treats, I cued her using her fetch cue: “Go get it.”

She returned with her bone, and I rewarded her again with tasty treats.

Her choice afterward?

She laid down right beside me, relaxed, confident, and comfortable to chew her bone.

That outcome didn’t come from control—it came from listening.

“But My Dog Doesn’t Resource Guard…”

Mine doesn’t either.

But she is a dog, and she communicated a moment of discomfort. I respected that communication instead of punishing it. That’s how we prevent issues from developing in the first place.

Growling is information.

Suppressing it doesn’t fix the emotion underneath—it just removes the warning sign.

Working With Dogs Who Do Resource Guard

For dogs with a history of resource guarding, I use a similar concept, but with a carefully structured plan:

Gradual steps

Controlled distances

High-value reinforcement

Progress measured in weeks, not minutes

Dogs who guard regularly often have a deeply rooted negative emotional response to people approaching their valued items. That emotional response is what needs to change for behavior change to last.

We don’t rush it.

We don’t challenge it.

We rebuild trust one repetition at a time.

When to Seek Help

If your dog:

Growls, freezes, or snaps around food, bones, toys, resting spaces, or even people (Yes some dogs resource guard their favorite people)

Makes you nervous to walk by while they’re chewing

Has a known history of guarding behaviors

Please don’t wait for it to escalate.

Early, thoughtful intervention keeps everyone safer—including your dog.

Ready to Get Support?

📞 Call or Text: 719-334-8111