Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Resource Guarding Behaviour Management

Resource guarding is a normal dog behaviour that becomes a welfare and safety issue when not appropriately managed, but responds well to behaviour modification.

Key Facts

Resource guarding is a normal evolutionary behaviour in dogs
Punishment for guarding typically increases aggression and anxiety
Trading games and approach-equals-reward training modify guarding effectively
Severe resource guarding requires professional behavioural intervention
Children are at highest risk from resource-guarding dogs due to poor bite avoidance

Welfare Considerations

Resource guarding reflects the dog's concern about losing valued resources - an anxiety-based behaviour that causes psychological distress. Punishing guarding increases the dog's fear and the likelihood of escalation. Evidence-based behaviour modification that addresses the underlying anxiety and teaches alternative responses reduces the dog's distress and prevents dangerous escalation.

What You Can Do

Use reward-based trading games to address resource guarding
Never punish a guarding dog - this increases aggression risk
Seek professional help from a certified behaviourist for severe guarding