Resource Guarding - Nuance, Nuance, Nuance!

Resource guarding is tough. I find it to be one of the harder behaviors for owners to stay consistent with once they’re back home. Not because they don’t care, but because there’s a lot going on here, and like most things in dog training, there’s a ton of nuance depending on the dog, the environment, and the people involved.

A few things are usually at play.

1. Most dogs will guard resources under the right circumstances.
To some extent, this is just normal dog behavior. It’s natural, and sometimes it’s even warranted. You’d probably slap your little brother’s hand if he reached onto your plate while you were eating, too.

Food, space, toys, resting spots, even people, these things all have value. Guarding something valuable doesn’t automatically mean something is “wrong.”

*2. Some dogs are true resource guarders - and I believe that tendency is genetic.
**In my experience, dogs who lean toward resource guarding will always lean that way. That doesn’t mean they’re dangerous or broken, and it definitely doesn’t mean they can’t improve. But it does mean they’ll likely always require some level of management to keep guarding from popping up.

*This does not mean your dog will resource guard every day for the rest of their life. And it doesn’t mean you won’t see big improvements. I just think these dogs will always have the capacity to guard again under the right conditions.*

3. Other dogs guard because it’s worked for them.
These dogs aren’t genetically wired to resource guard - they’ve just learned that it gets results. Growling makes people back up. Snapping makes hands disappear. Stiffening stops interaction.

Usually, this comes from unclear boundaries or inconsistent structure. I often compare these dogs to a spoiled kid throwing a tantrum in the grocery store, not because the kid is bad, but because the behavior has paid off before. If screaming got candy once, it’s worth trying again.

In these cases, the solution isn’t just trading games or management alone. It’s a relationship and lifestyle reset. These dogs need clarity. They need structure. They need to learn that humans control access to resources in a calm, predictable way, not that humans are threats who randomly take things away.

4. Either way, the responsibility on the owner is real.
Whether a dog is a genetic resource guarder or a learned one, the handler has to be more aware and more tuned in than average. Not just during training sessions, but in everyday life, at home, on the couch, in the kitchen, around guests, kids, and other dogs.

This is the hard part.

Like other forms of aggression, resource guarding requires commitment. Owners have to think ahead about management, recognize early warning signs, and be mindful anytime their dog is around something that could trigger guarding. You can’t half-commit, and you can’t rely on things being “fine lately.”

True prevention comes down to clear boundaries, reliable management strategies, and continuously working on the relationship you have with your dog.

And if resource guarding does pop up, genetic or otherwise, I’m a firm believer that board and trains can help immensely. Not as a magic fix, but as a reset. A reset for the dog and the owner. Many dogs who’ve come to me for resource guarding show no further symptoms after returning home, as long as the owners follow through with the lifestyle changes needed to keep setting their dog up for success.

From one owner of a resource-guardy dog or two to another, I see you. This shits hard! It’s frustrating. And it can feel heavy to manage.

But you will find a rhythm that works for you and your dog. Progress will happen, and really can get better.