Resource guarding is a normal dog behavior that can become dangerous without appropriate management. Welfare-positive approaches reduce both dog and human risk.
Dogs that resource guard and then face punishment experience anxiety, confusion, and escalating fear responses that worsen aggression. The dog is communicating discomfort through guarding - punishment makes that discomfort worse. Welfare-positive management that makes guarding unnecessary, combined with professional behavior support, resolves the issue without causing psychological harm.