đź§  Common Myths About Resource Guarding

❌ 1. “Only aggressive dogs guard resources.”

  • Reality: Even friendly, well-socialized dogs can guard. It’s a normal canine behavior rooted in survival instincts—not necessarily aggression.

❌ 2. “You must be the alpha and take things away to show dominance.”

  • Reality: Dominance-based approaches often escalate fear and aggression. Guarding is usually based on insecurity, not dominance.

❌ 3. “Puppies won’t guard if you mess with their food while they eat.”

  • Reality: Reaching into a puppy’s bowl or taking things away without teaching a positive association can actually create guarding, not prevent it.

❌ 4. “Guarding is always bad behavior that should be punished.”

  • Reality: Guarding is communication. Suppressing it with punishment removes warning signs, making bites more likely and less predictable.

❌ 5. “Once a dog guards, it can never be trusted again.”

  • Reality: Many dogs successfully overcome or manage guarding behavior with the right approach—often becoming more relaxed and trusting over time.

⚠️ Common Mistakes People Make

🔸 1. Taking Items Away Without Teaching a Trade

  • Grabbing food, toys, or chews without teaching a “drop it” or “trade” cue leads the dog to guard more fiercely in the future.

🔸 2. Using Punishment (Yelling, Alpha Rolls, Shock/Prong Collars)

  • Punishment causes fear and distrust, often making guarding worse or more dangerous by eliminating early warning signs like growling.

🔸 3. Testing the Dog Repeatedly

  • “Testing” a dog’s tolerance by poking them while eating or reaching into their bowl trains them that humans are unpredictable and threatening around resources.

🔸 4. Ignoring Early Warning Signs

  • People often miss or ignore subtle signs like stiffening, hard stares, or lip lifts—until the dog feels forced to escalate to snapping or biting.

🔸 5. Inconsistent Handling Among Family Members

  • Mixed messages (e.g., one person trades, another snatches toys) create confusion and anxiety, making the dog unsure of what to expect.

🔸 6. Crowding or Challenging the Dog Physically

  • Hovering, looming, or cornering a dog while it’s guarding can cause panic and defensive aggression—especially in fearful or anxious dogs.

🔸 7. Failing to Manage the Environment

  • Leaving high-value items (e.g., bones, trash, laundry) around where a guarding dog can access them increases risk unnecessarily.

Remember if you are dealing with Resource Guarding behavior or suspect you might be reach out to a qualified behavior professional. They can help evaluate your dog’s behavior and give you a training plan to set everyone up to be safe and successful.