I am going to the bootcamp today! My mix beagle/lab is SO smart and sweet, but yesterday he came after me hard after I tried to fill in a hole he had dug near a tree. I didn't realize at first what was happening. But when it happened a second time, I totally got it. I have been working with him every day since his adoption at 3 moths. It's been about a month now. I'm amazed at what he's learned. I do see how Im following most of the directions, but not taking it far enough. Thank you so much. You are a life saver.
I had a beautiful mutt 45 kg that was very (food) resource guarding. He had a sit and wait for minutes yet would freeze up if we went around him while he ate. I ended up sitting on the stairs holding his bowl. I'd let him eat, a bit than if stand up. Make him sit, I'd sit let him have some more. After time, maybe a week I'd put my fist in and he'd eat around it. We built to a point where he was usually good. But once ever 2-4 weeks I feed him like that. The crazy thing I'd give him carrots from my mouth and he was the most gentle. Yet protected that bowl. When my kids were babies, I'd put their foot in my hand in the bowl to set up the idea it's their food too . The dog was 4 at this time. Once the kids could walk they'd put the food in his bowl, give him the "it's yours " command. By the time he was 6 or so my kids could dig in his bowl while he ate with no concern. In the house, I was alpha he was beta always had my back. My wife he adored, he was her dog and he stood in front of her very protective. She could have conversations with him. She'd talk and he'd respond. My son he loved but always had his eye on him, my son always runs is clumsy and would fall. My daughter who was 5 when he died, had better control than I did. She tell him to leave a room in toddler speak, the dog left first ask. He'd have to think about it for me at times. 3 years old she'd walk him on leash no pulling, he would constantly look at her. He was a great dog.
I started doing the same, putting food in my hand & making dog sit & wait then eat from my hand - I pet his head some also without a growl. Just started that today:)
I have a dog that is a resource guarder with certain items but is otherwise pretty sweet. I have tried this technique (separate the dog from the trigger) and that works, but I don’t always feel like it’s easy to then reintroduce the item. For instance my dog will growl a bit if you get close to her food bowl on the floor. She never gets to run up to her food, she always has to wait and she knows that. I also spent nearly six month hand feeding her every single meal. Sometimes I hold her bowl in my hand and let her eat that way with no issue. After all those months of work that seemed to go great, if I put the bowl on the ground (and make her wait on her bed until she is released, she will still gently growl if I get close). My response is to calmly but firmly tell new no and send her away to her bed and make her wait again and she will do that - but I don’t think I have fixed her. She would act similar with Kong’s and Bully sticks so she just doesn’t get them. Same with furniture - she isn’t allowed on. Removing the triggers has certainly stopped the resource guarding, but she isn’t “fixed” because she will return to that behavior when the triggers are reintroduced.
I have the same problem. My dog waits until I allow her to eat, but if I get closer to her while food is on the floor she shows signs of discomfort, even growls if I try to pet her. Even if the bowl with food is far away. So I tried everything from this video and also was hand feeding her for a while, tried also positive reinforcement with treats when I'm nearby, nothing seems to work. Also she can give me anything from her mouth, like chews, kongs, bones, anything I ask her - she will do it. No problems. The other day she founded a bone with meat on it on the street, I was far away, so she sniffed it and looked at me. I came closer and saw the bone and told her "no" And she was like "ok" Even though a year ago she would kill me for it :D but the bowl with food on the floor is our main issue now and I don't know what to do, tried everything. And I don't see it as a leadership problem, since I can literally ask her to give me any bone she found on the street IF she even tries to put it in her mouth. No problems no growl.
I was always told to throw extra goodies into a newly adopted dog's food bowl, and this advice has served me well. Only do this if you feel safe, but I reach in the bowl and add some meat or treats- letting my hand linger in the bowl so the dog has to eat around it. Sometimes I take the food dish away with plain dry food, and then give it back with canned food or leftovers added, yogurt or just a sprinkle of hot water so that the dog comes to understand that when I mess with their food they always get something better. I understand that we need to be leaders to our dogs, but I see this as more of a parental role. Dogs are essentially neotenic wolves and in a childlike state forever, some more so than others but even the most independent breeds are this. I think when a dog is resource guarding it's food from the person who gave it to them they have a very deep anxiety fear over food and while practicing enthusiastic obedience exercises during meal time can help alleviate the stress, there shouldn't be any punishment involved with mealtimes. I am more curious about how to deal with dogs that resource guard toys from other dogs. If a dog were resource guarding a toy from humans I could see being more stern and using punishment, but not with food unless you've tried everything else and have had the animal's thyroid checked. People experience hunger differently, and it's not fair to assume all dogs are experiencing the same problem if they are guarding food.
@@4reg1 from what I heard. It’s just best to always hand feed them . Instead of leaving the food on the ground when they are pups you gotta do it more offten but. When they are older it’s just twice❤
This is so helpful, having a problem with a 3 year old cavapoo, partly issues of consistency within the family. But also, frustrating flipping from one trainer idea to another. Maybe we need bootcamp
"Restructuring the relationship" these words are straight to the heart of what is my dog and my issue. Thank you and I hope that class isn't too expensive because I believe I want to take it with pride
Excellent advice. I do this with the food and would like to add that I wait for the dog to look me in the eyes to release her from the sit-stay as she's more naturally focussed on my body language. To elaborate, I put the food in another room so I can close the door if she jumps the gun. Also I do open and close the door , move around the house and do other things before I release her. I keep making it more and more difficult so she must stay focussed on me I'm using this opportunity to reinforce verbal commands. She's a very determined resource guarder of her car crate. I don't let her out until she stops growling at me. This Behavior seems harder to extinguish.
Hi Will! So I have a 9 week old puppy, doesn’t resource guard with food at feeding or toys, but he will growl at me when I take things out of his mouth that are things he isn’t supposed to be eating. The growl is vicious and he’ll also try to bite me. I’ve grown up with dogs in the past, but this is the only pup who does this and the growl is very scary for a young age. And I don’t want it to get worst. Love your videos! Thanks?
Same here with a 6 month old puppy. No problem with food or toys, but even a napkin or a piece of plastic bag can trigger resource guarding. Very hard to train against it, as you don't know in advance what will be a precious treasure for him, and when it is in his mouth, its too late. The only thing that makes him let it go is a higher value trade, like a fine treat, but it doesn't seem to help in the long run.
We got a puppy a few months ago and got him nurtured at 6 months, shortly after he's gotten more possessive but I didn't know the signs (just thought it was puppy play when he'd body bump our other dogs etc) well today it escalated towards another dog and I really wish I'd found your videos sooner.
Dear Will, THANK YOU so much for this, and all of your videos! You are a genius and my favourite dog trainer of all! There's one question that puzzles me though... I wonder if I may ask for your advice?.. I want to become a dog-sitter, and I don't want other people's dogs start bossing me around in my own house. Do all these techniques apply for strange dogs as well? And how do I remove a growling, snapping dog from the thing he's guarding without getting bit?.. Wear protective gloves and distract with treats? 😅
We have a new dog who isn't resource guarding with us, but does take toys and treats away from our other dog. The new dog is an alpha and the first dog has always exhibited a beta personality. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
We have a 2 year old rescue red lab and he waits beautifully for his food. However couch, bed, rubbish he picks up or removing toys from his mouth results in growling and snapping. We do know he didnt have a bed previously as he slept in his owners bed and couch but he has picked up very quickly with us that he sleeps in his own bed and waits to be invited on the couch. But he's incredibly reactive to people. Climbs up the windows barking aggressively at people passing the window. Great with other dogs as he had a dog walker but we are working through his psychological problems slowly with a callm approach but the growing and snapping is scary
I recently started making my puppy sit and stay for his food. When he was younger he simply didn’t have the impulse control to do it but now that he is a little older, he is starting to get it. I guess I am on the right track.
One of my role model dogs is a pretty bossy golden doodle (in a pack of mostly giants 🤪), most of her life she has been about Sully level bossy, and I absolutely rely on her bossiness to do my job. She 100% respects me and backs me up, but lately she has started resource guarding with some of the other dogs. She does have to sit and "wait" for her food and eats in the same room as the group, but she is second to eat after my personal dog because her "rank" helps keep things flowing. I definitely don't need the resource guarding though, everything is mine and I know from experience where this road leads. Thank you so much for this video, definitely gets my wheels turning on how to restructure our relationship a bit and nip this behavior in the bud! As always brilliant explanations Will! ❤️
This was fantastic. I have a question on an extension of just controlling a dog’s food: Is there any way you would recommend teaching the behaviour to stop the dog from eating on command? My golden retriever’s resource guarding has become bad and I’m beginning the food training from his next meal I’d like to teach him a command that when I tell him to release or stop eating something, he listens
This was very helpful thank you! Do these approaches help if the issue is primarily happening between my dog and other dogs? My dog sees me as alpha and has never resource guarded with me. However, his issue is between him and other dogs primarily at the dog park. Sharing water, and sharing balls is when be begins to show these poor behaviors. Any additional advice?
I know Thai is an older video but maybe you can answer a question. What do you do if you get bit when taking the food away? What’s the protocol when you try and remove them and they bite.
Individuals in a wolf pack have different rolls and so are “leaders” that can be followed in different areas, even if they more seldom take initiative to action. Just like in humans, they can be good at different things. I think comparing between behaviors seen in captivity/wild is hard. Also resource guarding in wolves is very situation-dependent. Something you could maybe be useful in training.
Should you do the same with there water bowl for the break command ?? And 2nd question do you let ur puppy cry at night in there Crete or is that bad for them ? ........ Thanks! Love Your Videos got a Cane Corso myself 9 weeks old
I did all I was supposed to do with my puppy. Sit and stay before I say to get it. And after she turned 1, she started showing signs of resource guarding. I’ve been trying to work on it. Some days there is improvement and then some days it happens again. She always sits and waits. But once she gets to her food she gobbles it and there’s no getting her away. Well, I’ve been working to try and have her come get a higher value treat in the middle of her meal and it works sometimes. I guess I have to be consistent and patient. I hope I can straighten this out. Otherwise I’ll need a professional. Now it makes sense why she ate so super fast when I first brought her home as a puppy. I guess she was the go getter in the litter. She definitely was the chubbiest.
This is a testament to how impressed I am with Will as i've never written on any pages like this before.....I have an incredibly sweet golden retriever/spaniel mix dog who is almost 5 years old and for years i've had a very difficult time getting advice on my dog's unique type of resource guarding. He doesn't guard any toys in the house, or his food.. But when he finds another dog's toy he will steal it and either run away when i approach him or if i do get close he may show his teeth (sometimes accompanied by a growl) when i reach for it. So i usually back away and ignore him until he eventually he gives up. But of course i can't do this with something that might be dangerous in his mouth - like a chicken bone! (of which there are many in my neighborhood!) For the first time he displayed this kind of behavior in the house when he was clearly wanting attention. My mom dropped a trash bag tie (those wire thingies) on the floor and he took it and went across the room and lied down with it in his mouth. He typically doesn't eat anything that he guards but she didn't know this and she was worried he would so when she knelt down and reached for it from his mouth he nipped her on the finger. This was alarming to me and since this moment i have been struggling to find out how to manage this issue once and for all. When i first noticed this behavior evolving when he was a puppy i immediately tried to seek out help from dog 'trainers' and I spent a lot of money for a lot of bad advice that actually made the issue worse. When i first saw one of Will's vidoes I knew he was the guy to reach out to. But not sure if he reads these comments? If anyone has experienced something similar with their dog I would love to know how you dealt with it?
Not that I have a perfectly trained dog, but they will do the “leave it” command (age 2 yrs and 7 months) You use food as an incentive to start, which may not be how Will teaches this. But it has helped us when they get a hold of something they shouldn’t. As hard as you try, it happens.
Did you get any answers on this ? I have the same problem my pup resource guards things he steals or if he’s been sick and I try and clean it up I have been bitten (not knowing he was resource guarding when I tried to remove the item) and I find nothing on this it’s always on food or people
We have just seen signs of this with food and chews. We are only 7 days in with puppy mind. The first time it happened, was yesterday, he's not dangerous yet, but he's a saint bernard pup and is going to grow so it worried me. We've been following the perfect puppy course. I didn't know if it was the right thing, but when he started I took the chew off him straight away, asked him to sit and then gave it back, kept stroking him all over again and when he did growl again, i took it away again. He ended up allowing me to touch him all over, and take it off him and give it back with no growling. But this morn he's done it again with food. Again, I took it away. Thought it was best to come find a video on it from you as I could be doing more damage than good.
I did everything you said I have him sit and stay and wait for his food, I have been doing this since he’s a pup. He’s 9 mths old and is only now starting to resource guard with his sniff mat that we use at dinner time. It’s very strange because he does listen to me and I work with him the most in the house. I’m baffled
I abide by the theory of teaching your dog that you are the owner of all their toys, chews, etc. and that you only distribute them when the dog deserves rewarding of positive feedback. I also subscribe to handling my dogs food from the very beginning and while they are feeding to take food from the bowl and to hand feed them until they lock in on just how and where the food comes from and I have never had a dog that didn't catch on quickly and who never showed any aggression.
I just got a new puppy and I was wondering..... Trying to be proactive.....what is the proper protocol to prevent Resource Guarding between my two dogs from potentially happening in the future? One is 8 months old and one is 8 weeks old. The older one is so patient and shares so nicely, anything and everything. I look out for him because the puppy is such a "thief" naturally. Not sure what else to do other than treat them both the same really.....
Will, my dog is six months old and is resource guarding but it’s very specific. He growls over food but only with other animals around. And he’s extremely territorial over his crate almost like he feel likes it gonna be taken from him. He doesn’t growl at me over the Crate or any other human but other dogs he does. And when he’s out side the crate and another dog is around he bolt for his crate like he’s protecting it.
Question What type of training will help my dog that growls when I ask him for the ball while playing fetch? I threw a few balls out I asked for a trade with a different type of ball, they same type of ball and a treat. It clearly wasn’t the best treat. I packed up the game and put the balls up and when I walked back with the treat to try trade off he dropped it without issue.
I've never had a dog resource guarding, mine have always seemed to encourage company when eating, I think they have seen someone coming near them when eating ment maybe more food.
This video was great. However, in my case my dog is source guarding me from my other pets in the house and I am afraid she might turn even more aggressive what can I do in that case?
I have a 13 month old beagle black and tan hound mix. She is the friendliest sweetheart ever to people and other dogs. I have worked with her a lot, it was a struggle but we got the jumping, licking and overall crazy happy under somewhat control. 😂 one issue is she likes to snatch bits of whatever That hits the floor. Not food but bits of trash or plastic she just likes to chew. I can take her food, or her prized deer antler away with no issue at all. But when she gets my keys or a pair of Costa sunglasses ect. She won’t respond to drop it. She will immediately drop bones or whatever toys I tell her to drop. She just gets a little weird when I try to take something she’s claimed. If you try to make her drop it she snarls and bites. Not full on but testing the waters for sure. This morning she claimed a bread tie and I tried to remove it from her mouth. She got me, I’m a bit old school and I didn’t do the right thing. I got angry and yelled and submitted her by holding her down on her side. I suppose the submitting part is ok but not in anger. Idk how I could get her to stop picking random items and claiming them. It weird that she knows what she can chew and only does this sometimes with dumb stuff that gets dropped or inevitable finds something cool she randomly lies. Recommendations welcome.
My philosophy with a dog. What's mine is mine. What's theirs is still mine. All my dogs have to do is do what I tell them to do, and stay calm. Then they get what they want.
My boys have to sit while I put the bowls down, then they have to touch my right palm with their nose and after I praise them for doing that, they are allowed to eat. I have to do it this way , because one of them inhales his food and the other eats slowgoing, chewing suroughly before swallowing. The latter gets his food first, so he has more time to eat, while the other one is distracted.
We’re four months in with a seven month old puppy with lots of resource guarding, attacking our other two dogs. We didn’t realize it had a term, now it’s her way…still hope?
my rescue 2 year old cane corso is resource guarding beds toys and food from my other 3.5 year old cane corso rescue, how can I correct this behavior? I now feed in the kennel but toys, beds and even my room are off limits to my 3.5 year old. I do redirect Hondo, the 2 year old and I advocate for Hattie, the 3.5 year old but there have been 5 second snapping from Hondo at Hattie to chase her off what ever he deems as his only.
What about a dog that is resource guarding the whole house to visitors. Family can of course come and go. No aggression with food or toys at all just visitors. Is this still a form of resource guarding? Dog adopted at 2 is now 5.
Week one, 11/2 yr lab rescue a bit feral. Avoids touch but carries around my dirty sock and follows me around. He responds to his name. But does not yet know any commands. He is resource guarding not with me but against my 13yr collie. Toys and chews are up now But he runs in and out first and does steer her away from water in Az So not good. So far it's just looks no growling or snapping. If I stand up and talk firmly he stops immediately. I will look at your boot camp. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I doubt this dog will find another home.
My 15 month old cavapoochon will resource guard socks slippers and toys, he will be going to a minder in the new year and am worried as to how I handle this as I don’t want the minders children bitten
My 10 month old Staffy x alapaha (very big dog) is showing all signs of resource guarding but it’s not with food or toys or anything.. it’s only with stuff he shouldn’t have that he somehow manages to find like socks, tissues etc (and a nappy one time 🥴) he is a very good motivated dog and will drop any of his toys as soon as I ask but even with his favourite treats he won’t drop when it’s something he isn’t allowed. At the same time, if I tell him off for it he just gets really aggressive and will sometimes swallow it which has made him throw up plenty of socks. Not sure what to do to fix this
Will, My dog is resource guarding bones but only guards against my other dogs. She does not growl at my wife or kids. Only when other dogs come around. Isnt this normal? Wouldn't any dog try and not allow another dog to walk up and take her bone?
Great video. With my puppy, I can have her sit with her food in front of her for a minute and when she goes to eat and I pet her and shes fine. Its only when I walk away and come back to pet her again that she growls. She's even disciplines to stop eating and walk away from the bowl but she still seems to be resource guarding the food. Any suggestions?
So today I gave food to Togo(my 9 months old dog). After few minutes once he started to eat,. I noticed his bowel wasn't locked into the kennel. I told Togo sit of course he's into his food, didn't sit just chumping along. I went to lock in the bowel he growled n did a little bark at me, I said no Togo and took the food bowel away. I started over told him to sit wait and OK you can eat again. What you think? Is he having food aggression. Did I corrected the right way? Should I repeat action by touching his food bowel and see if he growels?
I have a puppy that I adopted at 12 weeks old. He has started growling and snapping at my 5 month old puppy if she gets close to his food and a tug toy. I've only had him for 4 days, so I haven't had the time to get week one training locked down yet. How do I stop it from getting worse. Right now I just crate them both up to eat but I think that is a bandage and not fixing the issue.
Understandably, but how do you remove the dog from the place he has been "Resource Guarding?", ie the Couch, the Bed, his Bedding, his Toys, his Food, an item of moms he has just decided to pick up and claim or destroy last sadly not least every now and then the Hallway mom needs to go thru/pass to enter the restroom. All this in the home the 3 of us must share?!
I deal with this with my English Bull Terrier. She’s 10 months old now and she resource guards certain things. What she’s most crazy about is her vomit. The two or 3 times she’s thrown up it was a very scary situation for me to get her away from it. Especially one time she ate some unidentifiable berries from the yard and I gave her a couple tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up.
Always ensured my puppies never did this. My rescue tried it, I took food away and pretended to eat it. I repeated this until it stopped. I used to use my hand as an extension of my mouth and but my hand around its muzzle and let go when submitted. Food always got taken up after 20 mins max. Leftover food was stored & not given until next mealtime. Never got picky with food again, or resource guarded
would this apply to bone guarding too? my 4 month old rottie just showed resource guarding over the bone. it was scary. so i can either leave him alone while he is eating it (went to grab the bone to take the paper off of it) or not give him a bone ever. he doesn't do it with food. just high value treats ( has happened twice) like you said what if my baby went over to him and he got bit.
I’m on the same boat. My Japanese akita never resource guards over food only WHEN he gets high value treats like raw meaty bones. It’s so heartbreaking.
If you haven't found an answer, I suggest watching Robert Cabral's video on resource guarding. You want to have a bone in both hands, and let your dog chew on one while you are holding it. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D467Wdi_JbwQ&ved=2ahUKEwi_qdb5wub3AhUJkmoFHRtQCY8Qz40FegQIBBAI&usg=AOvVaw0Qd4ou63kqZyf6fX8X5Tnk
Do not leave babies alone with dogs ever. That is responsible dog ownership and responsible parenting. Teach your children to not ever try to take anything from the dog and they should be supervised at all times. What is it hear breaking that your dog loves a high value treat or bone? It’s natural. Stop trying to take it off them and let them enjoy it in peace.
I have a 7 month old Cane Corse/Pit Bull (Dutton) mix puppy. He is a quick learner, eager to please... Well trained dog. I've had him for just over 4 months. In the last 3 weeks I have started too notice that when ever my old dog a Beagle/Retriever mix(Jackson) tries to get close too me... Dutton gets protective. I've tried to correct it by getting between them, being loud and letting Dutton know that I am in charge. Tonight for the first time Dutton stood his ground, he didn't act aggressive towards me, but he also did not let up... He put his shoulders forward and continued too death stare Jackson and growl... I have him trained too 'Look at me' when he is commanded to do so... he does but even after I try to reset the situation he still will not let Jackson close too me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I cant wait to get a dog and use your techniques. I know you're very busy but I did write you again recently with a important question. I apologise if I'm being impertinent.
Great video! We’re dealing with this now but our 10 month old sheepadoodle is resource guarding (quite aggressively) towards our 7 year old dog. I have done all that you are talking about and it has helped so much with the beginning of resource guarding with humans but now we don’t know what to do to fix the resource guarding towards our other dog. It’s just with food and one time with water. Please help!
What if my puppy doesn’t t have any aggression towards me. The problem is with other dogs. I noticed it with my male Anatolian shepherd with his sister and my Akita. He’ll finish his food and go to the next pups bowl, back hair goes up, he growls, shows teeth until he gets the bowl to himself. I had to start separate feeding them to stop the situation entirely
I just brought home a six year old rescue husky (with signs of abuse), and am having these issues too... not just with food. He seems to be transferring those issues to just about everything. We haven't even been able to touch him. He's bitten me and my partner both in the last few days, and only sometimes displays any kind of warning; and that is usually a look less than a second before a snap. Goes from nowhere to immediately biting and latching on. We're not beginner owners, but this behaviour is way our of our league to handle at this point. Poor dog. I just don't know if I am capable of helping him, and my partner has become despondent, and it hasn't even been a week yet. I know it will take time, but how many bites is enough, when it's creating a lifetime of fear connections in the owner? Wish I didn't live on the other side of the world. Do you know anyone working as a behaviourist or trainer in New Zealand (Wellington region) who uses your techniques and you would recommend, to help?
Great explanation of the behavior and some basic work. I have a GSD who does not guarded stuff from me but does from other dogs (food, treats, space, and access to me). I'm assuming I need to work even more at being boss in more of his actions and decisions, but not sure what that training would look like since he doesn't guard against me.
What about if it’s resource guarding with my children he doesn’t do it with me or my bf but has snipped at my kids over food and a bone. I do not want it to progress to toys also. The youngest cannot talk yet.
Our 2 yr old bulldog has started Resource guarding the couches, his sister’s beg and any object he gets his mouth on. We have been trying to stop it or control the environment but he gets aggressive and resource guards against us the humans. He’s not like that to our other dog though. I would appreciate to see what you recommend we do or if we should see a veterinary behaviorist. I don’t want our dog to become out of control
My dog doesn’t have resource guarding from his food or comfy spots but when he has a high valued treat, bone or sometimes rubbish he’s found/ stolen he will show those traits. How I deal with it currently is to swap the object for a treat but am worried I am reinforcing the behaviour or that he is doing this for a treat. (Dog breed is working line retriever)
I have a new golden puppy with the same problem. Today I purposely gave him a chew skin he values heavily. Once he’s working on it I will put my hand close and absolutely ignore his growls and even his warning bite that he gives me. Then I’ll grab the skin while he chews. Then eventually I’ll take it, then give it back. Kept going for multiple repetitions, at different intervals. Pretty soon he’ll let me take it with no aggression. Then maybe he will show aggression but I stay disciplined and ignore all of it. It’s a learned behavior that I’m trying to show won’t work with me and is unnecessary
My dog has food aggression aggression with certain resources.I thought he was getting better but he was very bad with my teenage daughter.This has happened in the past when I'm not in the room when she's tried to get something off him he had a lolly yesterday.i feel he doesn't see her as a leader I worry about my other children too.my dog is ten months old .How do I also get my dog to respect my kids also not just me
My dog is nowhere near aggressive toward me and doesn’t resource guard anything from me, but he resource guards his toys with other dogs and sometimes the cat. He’s not aggressive with other animals until his toys are involved and I don’t know why. His toys have never been taken from him by us or other animals unless destroyed and he’s never been deprived of anything. He respects people and loves people engaging with him and food and him and toys. He just despises other animals near his stuff. It freaking sucks. He’s well trained and I’ve been training him since he was 8 weeks old. He’s a 17 mo gsd with 47ish solid commands. I’m at a loss because no matter how far we get in training, we can’t get to the point of at least neutrality with other animals around his toys.
My problem is after sit and stay and the food is given my bloodhound/gsd/white swiss/chinook she still growls and scarfs down her food to the point she stuffs her mouth then has to cough it back out. No one is near her or I might walk by or the cats might look at her.Could you do something on Bloodhounds and crosses?
I am unable to access your boot camp or the puppy course. I have tried to open it on google, google chrome & safari and I keep getting the message that the site is unable to be reached. I live in Canada, is it not available here?
10months old german shepherd has all of a sudden got bad with this but I am working on it offering him a treat if he gives me the bone an guna repeat this until I limit the treats
My 4 month old Dalmatian just started to resource guard food and toys with my other dog :( and my other dog is really small and I’m afraid he can hurt her.
I've been looking for nearly an hour on an in depth explanation on resource gaurding. This by far is the best one I've ever came across.
Thanks so much Gilbert! So glad you found it helpful!!
What do you do if your dog is snapping and bossy with puppies no
I am going to the bootcamp today! My mix beagle/lab is SO smart and sweet, but yesterday he came after me hard after I tried to fill in a hole he had dug near a tree. I didn't realize at first what was happening. But when it happened a second time, I totally got it. I have been working with him every day since his adoption at 3 moths. It's been about a month now. I'm amazed at what he's learned. I do see how Im following most of the directions, but not taking it far enough. Thank you so much. You are a life saver.
I had a beautiful mutt 45 kg that was very (food) resource guarding. He had a sit and wait for minutes yet would freeze up if we went around him while he ate. I ended up sitting on the stairs holding his bowl. I'd let him eat, a bit than if stand up. Make him sit, I'd sit let him have some more. After time, maybe a week I'd put my fist in and he'd eat around it. We built to a point where he was usually good. But once ever 2-4 weeks I feed him like that. The crazy thing I'd give him carrots from my mouth and he was the most gentle. Yet protected that bowl. When my kids were babies, I'd put their foot in my hand in the bowl to set up the idea it's their food too . The dog was 4 at this time. Once the kids could walk they'd put the food in his bowl, give him the "it's yours " command. By the time he was 6 or so my kids could dig in his bowl while he ate with no concern.
In the house, I was alpha he was beta always had my back. My wife he adored, he was her dog and he stood in front of her very protective. She could have conversations with him. She'd talk and he'd respond.
My son he loved but always had his eye on him, my son always runs is clumsy and would fall.
My daughter who was 5 when he died, had better control than I did. She tell him to leave a room in toddler speak, the dog left first ask. He'd have to think about it for me at times. 3 years old she'd walk him on leash no pulling, he would constantly look at her.
He was a great dog.
I started doing the same, putting food in my hand & making dog sit & wait then eat from my hand - I pet his head some also without a growl.
Just started that today:)
I have a dog that is a resource guarder with certain items but is otherwise pretty sweet. I have tried this technique (separate the dog from the trigger) and that works, but I don’t always feel like it’s easy to then reintroduce the item. For instance my dog will growl a bit if you get close to her food bowl on the floor. She never gets to run up to her food, she always has to wait and she knows that. I also spent nearly six month hand feeding her every single meal. Sometimes I hold her bowl in my hand and let her eat that way with no issue. After all those months of work that seemed to go great, if I put the bowl on the ground (and make her wait on her bed until she is released, she will still gently growl if I get close). My response is to calmly but firmly tell new no and send her away to her bed and make her wait again and she will do that - but I don’t think I have fixed her. She would act similar with Kong’s and Bully sticks so she just doesn’t get them. Same with furniture - she isn’t allowed on. Removing the triggers has certainly stopped the resource guarding, but she isn’t “fixed” because she will return to that behavior when the triggers are reintroduced.
Excellent question would love to see it addressed
I have the same problem. My dog waits until I allow her to eat, but if I get closer to her while food is on the floor she shows signs of discomfort, even growls if I try to pet her. Even if the bowl with food is far away. So I tried everything from this video and also was hand feeding her for a while, tried also positive reinforcement with treats when I'm nearby, nothing seems to work. Also she can give me anything from her mouth, like chews, kongs, bones, anything I ask her - she will do it. No problems. The other day she founded a bone with meat on it on the street, I was far away, so she sniffed it and looked at me. I came closer and saw the bone and told her "no" And she was like "ok" Even though a year ago she would kill me for it :D but the bowl with food on the floor is our main issue now and I don't know what to do, tried everything. And I don't see it as a leadership problem, since I can literally ask her to give me any bone she found on the street IF she even tries to put it in her mouth. No problems no growl.
Your dog does not have a problem, just let her eat here meal in peace.
I was always told to throw extra goodies into a newly adopted dog's food bowl, and this advice has served me well. Only do this if you feel safe, but I reach in the bowl and add some meat or treats- letting my hand linger in the bowl so the dog has to eat around it. Sometimes I take the food dish away with plain dry food, and then give it back with canned food or leftovers added, yogurt or just a sprinkle of hot water so that the dog comes to understand that when I mess with their food they always get something better. I understand that we need to be leaders to our dogs, but I see this as more of a parental role. Dogs are essentially neotenic wolves and in a childlike state forever, some more so than others but even the most independent breeds are this. I think when a dog is resource guarding it's food from the person who gave it to them they have a very deep anxiety fear over food and while practicing enthusiastic obedience exercises during meal time can help alleviate the stress, there shouldn't be any punishment involved with mealtimes.
I am more curious about how to deal with dogs that resource guard toys from other dogs. If a dog were resource guarding a toy from humans I could see being more stern and using punishment, but not with food unless you've tried everything else and have had the animal's thyroid checked. People experience hunger differently, and it's not fair to assume all dogs are experiencing the same problem if they are guarding food.
@@4reg1 from what I heard. It’s just best to always hand feed them . Instead of leaving the food on the ground when they are pups you gotta do it more offten but. When they are older it’s just twice❤
This is so helpful, having a problem with a 3 year old cavapoo, partly issues of consistency within the family. But also, frustrating flipping from one trainer idea to another. Maybe we need bootcamp
"Restructuring the relationship" these words are straight to the heart of what is my dog and my issue. Thank you and I hope that class isn't too expensive because I believe I want to take it with pride
Brilliant.
best video on the topic, been searching most of the afternoon. good job mate
Thanks for watching, so glad you found our video helpful!
My 14 week old yorkie is showing resource aggression. Watching your videos to try and understand and fix this behavior 😊
You are brilliant Will. So many people must be benefitting from these videos👍🙂
We hope so!
@@willathertoncaninetraininghi will, how do I find the boot camp link?
Excellent advice. I do this with the food and would like to add that I wait for the dog to look me in the eyes to release her from the sit-stay as she's more naturally focussed on my body language. To elaborate, I put the food in another room so I can close the door if she jumps the gun. Also I do open and close the door , move around the house and do other things before I release her. I keep making it more and more difficult so she must stay focussed on me I'm using this opportunity to reinforce verbal commands. She's a very determined resource guarder of her car crate. I don't let her out until she stops growling at me. This Behavior seems harder to extinguish.
i'm surprised Will didn't say the eye contact thing , it is very important
Hi Will! So I have a 9 week old puppy, doesn’t resource guard with food at feeding or toys, but he will growl at me when I take things out of his mouth that are things he isn’t supposed to be eating. The growl is vicious and he’ll also try to bite me.
I’ve grown up with dogs in the past, but this is the only pup who does this and the growl is very scary for a young age. And I don’t want it to get worst. Love your videos! Thanks?
Going through this exact situation!
Late to the party, but did you manage to solve this issue? Having the same here :....
Nip it in the bud ASAP!
Boundaries, rules, consequences every.single.time.
Same here with a 6 month old puppy. No problem with food or toys, but even a napkin or a piece of plastic bag can trigger resource guarding. Very hard to train against it, as you don't know in advance what will be a precious treasure for him, and when it is in his mouth, its too late. The only thing that makes him let it go is a higher value trade, like a fine treat, but it doesn't seem to help in the long run.
We got a puppy a few months ago and got him nurtured at 6 months, shortly after he's gotten more possessive but I didn't know the signs (just thought it was puppy play when he'd body bump our other dogs etc) well today it escalated towards another dog and I really wish I'd found your videos sooner.
Great information as usual Will. Always an education - thanks so much!
Dear Will, THANK YOU so much for this, and all of your videos! You are a genius and my favourite dog trainer of all!
There's one question that puzzles me though... I wonder if I may ask for your advice?.. I want to become a dog-sitter, and I don't want other people's dogs start bossing me around in my own house. Do all these techniques apply for strange dogs as well? And how do I remove a growling, snapping dog from the thing he's guarding without getting bit?.. Wear protective gloves and distract with treats? 😅
We have a new dog who isn't resource guarding with us, but does take toys and treats away from our other dog. The new dog is an alpha and the first dog has always exhibited a beta personality. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
How would you go about an olderdog recourse gaurding vs a new puppy?
We have a 2 year old rescue red lab and he waits beautifully for his food. However couch, bed, rubbish he picks up or removing toys from his mouth results in growling and snapping. We do know he didnt have a bed previously as he slept in his owners bed and couch but he has picked up very quickly with us that he sleeps in his own bed and waits to be invited on the couch. But he's incredibly reactive to people. Climbs up the windows barking aggressively at people passing the window. Great with other dogs as he had a dog walker but we are working through his psychological problems slowly with a callm approach but the growing and snapping is scary
I recently started making my puppy sit and stay for his food. When he was younger he simply didn’t have the impulse control to do it but now that he is a little older, he is starting to get it. I guess I am on the right track.
Nice job! Thank you. Well expressed and filled with great dog knowledge. Thank you thank you thank you!
One of my role model dogs is a pretty bossy golden doodle (in a pack of mostly giants 🤪), most of her life she has been about Sully level bossy, and I absolutely rely on her bossiness to do my job. She 100% respects me and backs me up, but lately she has started resource guarding with some of the other dogs. She does have to sit and "wait" for her food and eats in the same room as the group, but she is second to eat after my personal dog because her "rank" helps keep things flowing. I definitely don't need the resource guarding though, everything is mine and I know from experience where this road leads. Thank you so much for this video, definitely gets my wheels turning on how to restructure our relationship a bit and nip this behavior in the bud! As always brilliant explanations Will! ❤️
This was fantastic.
I have a question on an extension of just controlling a dog’s food:
Is there any way you would recommend teaching the behaviour to stop the dog from eating on command?
My golden retriever’s resource guarding has become bad and I’m beginning the food training from his next meal
I’d like to teach him a command that when I tell him to release or stop eating something, he listens
This was very helpful thank you!
Do these approaches help if the issue is primarily happening between my dog and other dogs? My dog sees me as alpha and has never resource guarded with me. However, his issue is between him and other dogs primarily at the dog park. Sharing water, and sharing balls is when be begins to show these poor behaviors. Any additional advice?
Same issue here
Thank you. Very helpful.
I know Thai is an older video but maybe you can answer a question. What do you do if you get bit when taking the food away? What’s the protocol when you try and remove them and they bite.
This is a great video! Love the content, Will! Thank you
Individuals in a wolf pack have different rolls and so are “leaders” that can be followed in different areas, even if they more seldom take initiative to action. Just like in humans, they can be good at different things. I think comparing between behaviors seen in captivity/wild is hard. Also resource guarding in wolves is very situation-dependent. Something you could maybe be useful in training.
This was super helpful! Thank you
Should you do the same with there water bowl for the break command ?? And 2nd question do you let ur puppy cry at night in there Crete or is that bad for them ? ........ Thanks! Love Your Videos got a Cane Corso myself 9 weeks old
I did all I was supposed to do with my puppy. Sit and stay before I say to get it. And after she turned 1, she started showing signs of resource guarding. I’ve been trying to work on it. Some days there is improvement and then some days it happens again. She always sits and waits. But once she gets to her food she gobbles it and there’s no getting her away. Well, I’ve been working to try and have her come get a higher value treat in the middle of her meal and it works sometimes. I guess I have to be consistent and patient. I hope I can straighten this out. Otherwise I’ll need a professional. Now it makes sense why she ate so super fast when I first brought her home as a puppy. I guess she was the go getter in the litter. She definitely was the chubbiest.
How did it go? I’m going through this myself
This is a testament to how impressed I am with Will as i've never written on any pages like this before.....I have an incredibly sweet golden retriever/spaniel mix dog who is almost 5 years old and for years i've had a very difficult time getting advice on my dog's unique type of resource guarding. He doesn't guard any toys in the house, or his food.. But when he finds another dog's toy he will steal it and either run away when i approach him or if i do get close he may show his teeth (sometimes accompanied by a growl) when i reach for it. So i usually back away and ignore him until he eventually he gives up. But of course i can't do this with something that might be dangerous in his mouth - like a chicken bone! (of which there are many in my neighborhood!) For the first time he displayed this kind of behavior in the house when he was clearly wanting attention. My mom dropped a trash bag tie (those wire thingies) on the floor and he took it and went across the room and lied down with it in his mouth. He typically doesn't eat anything that he guards but she didn't know this and she was worried he would so when she knelt down and reached for it from his mouth he nipped her on the finger. This was alarming to me and since this moment i have been struggling to find out how to manage this issue once and for all. When i first noticed this behavior evolving when he was a puppy i immediately tried to seek out help from dog 'trainers' and I spent a lot of money for a lot of bad advice that actually made the issue worse. When i first saw one of Will's vidoes I knew he was the guy to reach out to. But not sure if he reads these comments? If anyone has experienced something similar with their dog I would love to know how you dealt with it?
Not that I have a perfectly trained dog, but they will do the “leave it” command (age 2 yrs and 7 months) You use food as an incentive to start, which may not be how Will teaches this. But it has helped us when they get a hold of something they shouldn’t. As hard as you try, it happens.
Did you get any answers on this ? I have the same problem my pup resource guards things he steals or if he’s been sick and I try and clean it up I have been bitten (not knowing he was resource guarding when I tried to remove the item) and I find nothing on this it’s always on food or people
Thank you for posting this video! Great info. This is exactly what I was looking for.
We have just seen signs of this with food and chews. We are only 7 days in with puppy mind. The first time it happened, was yesterday, he's not dangerous yet, but he's a saint bernard pup and is going to grow so it worried me. We've been following the perfect puppy course. I didn't know if it was the right thing, but when he started I took the chew off him straight away, asked him to sit and then gave it back, kept stroking him all over again and when he did growl again, i took it away again. He ended up allowing me to touch him all over, and take it off him and give it back with no growling. But this morn he's done it again with food. Again, I took it away. Thought it was best to come find a video on it from you as I could be doing more damage than good.
Any content on reestablishing leadership role? I need to work on this with me but also with wife and kids and our dog.
I did everything you said I have him sit and stay and wait for his food, I have been doing this since he’s a pup. He’s 9 mths old and is only now starting to resource guard with his sniff mat that we use at dinner time. It’s very strange because he does listen to me and I work with him the most in the house. I’m baffled
I really enjoyed this video I’m gonna try this out
Thank you so much for making this video!!!
I have a 6 months old lab puppy that stared ressource guarding behavior. What course would be better, the puppy training or the boot camp? Thank you
Super helpful! Thank you!
I abide by the theory of teaching your dog that you are the owner of all their toys, chews, etc. and that you only distribute them when the dog deserves rewarding of positive feedback. I also subscribe to handling my dogs food from the very beginning and while they are feeding to take food from the bowl and to hand feed them until they lock in on just how and where the food comes from and I have never had a dog that didn't catch on quickly and who never showed any aggression.
Where do we access the boot camp course? The link in description is no longer working. Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge
My 10 months old Shepherd X resource guards me, does this method works for all types of resource guarding? Thank you!
I just got a new puppy and I was wondering..... Trying to be proactive.....what is the proper protocol to prevent Resource Guarding between my two dogs from potentially happening in the future? One is 8 months old and one is 8 weeks old. The older one is so patient and shares so nicely, anything and everything. I look out for him because the puppy is such a "thief" naturally. Not sure what else to do other than treat them both the same really.....
Will, my dog is six months old and is resource guarding but it’s very specific. He growls over food but only with other animals around. And he’s extremely territorial over his crate almost like he feel likes it gonna be taken from him. He doesn’t growl at me over the Crate or any other human but other dogs he does. And when he’s out side the crate and another dog is around he bolt for his crate like he’s protecting it.
Question
What type of training will help my dog that growls when I ask him for the ball while playing fetch?
I threw a few balls out I asked for a trade with a different type of ball, they same type of ball and a treat. It clearly wasn’t the best treat. I packed up the game and put the balls up and when I walked back with the treat to try trade off he dropped it without issue.
I've never had a dog resource guarding, mine have always seemed to encourage company when eating, I think they have seen someone coming near them when eating ment maybe more food.
This video was great. However, in my case my dog is source guarding me from my other pets in the house and I am afraid she might turn even more aggressive what can I do in that case?
I have a 13 month old beagle black and tan hound mix. She is the friendliest sweetheart ever to people and other dogs. I have worked with her a lot, it was a struggle but we got the jumping, licking and overall crazy happy under somewhat control. 😂 one issue is she likes to snatch bits of whatever That hits the floor. Not food but bits of trash or plastic she just likes to chew. I can take her food, or her prized deer antler away with no issue at all. But when she gets my keys or a pair of Costa sunglasses ect. She won’t respond to drop it. She will immediately drop bones or whatever toys I tell her to drop. She just gets a little weird when I try to take something she’s claimed. If you try to make her drop it she snarls and bites. Not full on but testing the waters for sure. This morning she claimed a bread tie and I tried to remove it from her mouth. She got me, I’m a bit old school and I didn’t do the right thing. I got angry and yelled and submitted her by holding her down on her side. I suppose the submitting part is ok but not in anger. Idk how I could get her to stop picking random items and claiming them. It weird that she knows what she can chew and only does this sometimes with dumb stuff that gets dropped or inevitable finds something cool she randomly lies. Recommendations welcome.
My philosophy with a dog. What's mine is mine. What's theirs is still mine. All my dogs have to do is do what I tell them to do, and stay calm. Then they get what they want.
My boys have to sit while I put the bowls down, then they have to touch my right palm with their nose and after I praise them for doing that, they are allowed to eat. I have to do it this way , because one of them inhales his food and the other eats slowgoing, chewing suroughly before swallowing. The latter gets his food first, so he has more time to eat, while the other one is distracted.
Great explanation! Brilliant
Our 8 week old is resource guarding a toy or the sand patch, does the same thing apply by removing them access to the area etc?
We’re four months in with a seven month old puppy with lots of resource guarding, attacking our other two dogs. We didn’t realize it had a term, now it’s her way…still hope?
What do you do though if the puppy almost 6 months, growls and bites. Do you have a video for that?
my rescue 2 year old cane corso is resource guarding beds toys and food from my other 3.5 year old cane corso rescue, how can I correct this behavior? I now feed in the kennel but toys, beds and even my room are off limits to my 3.5 year old. I do redirect Hondo, the 2 year old and I advocate for Hattie, the 3.5 year old but there have been 5 second snapping from Hondo at Hattie to chase her off what ever he deems as his only.
Is this course still available? I followed the link and the website looks strange/incomplete.
What about a dog that is resource guarding the whole house to visitors. Family can of course come and go. No aggression with food or toys at all just visitors. Is this still a form of resource guarding? Dog adopted at 2 is now 5.
Week one, 11/2 yr lab rescue a bit feral. Avoids touch but carries around my dirty sock and follows me around. He responds to his name. But does not yet know any commands. He is resource guarding not with me but against my 13yr collie. Toys and chews are up now But he runs in and out first and does steer her away from water in Az So not good. So far it's just looks no growling or snapping. If I stand up and talk firmly he stops immediately. I will look at your boot camp. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I doubt this dog will find another home.
My 15 month old cavapoochon will resource guard socks slippers and toys, he will be going to a minder in the new year and am worried as to how I handle this as I don’t want the minders children bitten
My six week old boerboel only resource guards against its Older 3 month old malinois brother I've had them for 4 days how should I tackle this?
My 10 month old Staffy x alapaha (very big dog) is showing all signs of resource guarding but it’s not with food or toys or anything.. it’s only with stuff he shouldn’t have that he somehow manages to find like socks, tissues etc (and a nappy one time 🥴) he is a very good motivated dog and will drop any of his toys as soon as I ask but even with his favourite treats he won’t drop when it’s something he isn’t allowed. At the same time, if I tell him off for it he just gets really aggressive and will sometimes swallow it which has made him throw up plenty of socks. Not sure what to do to fix this
Will,
My dog is resource guarding bones but only guards against my other dogs. She does not growl at my wife or kids. Only when other dogs come around. Isnt this normal? Wouldn't any dog try and not allow another dog to walk up and take her bone?
Great video. With my puppy, I can have her sit with her food in front of her for a minute and when she goes to eat and I pet her and shes fine. Its only when I walk away and come back to pet her again that she growls. She's even disciplines to stop eating and walk away from the bowl but she still seems to be resource guarding the food. Any suggestions?
Same here for me
Just let your dog eat in peace.
So today I gave food to Togo(my 9 months old dog). After few minutes once he started to eat,. I noticed his bowel wasn't locked into the kennel.
I told Togo sit of course he's into his food, didn't sit just chumping along. I went to lock in the bowel he growled n did a little bark at me, I said no Togo and took the food bowel away. I started over told him to sit wait and OK you can eat again.
What you think? Is he having food aggression. Did I corrected the right way? Should I repeat action by touching his food bowel and see if he growels?
I’m not able to open the boot camp course, any help?
The link for the bootcamp isn’t working. Is there a website? I have a pit bull puppy who is 3 months and he growls and snaps at me when he has a bone.
I have a puppy that I adopted at 12 weeks old. He has started growling and snapping at my 5 month old puppy if she gets close to his food and a tug toy. I've only had him for 4 days, so I haven't had the time to get week one training locked down yet. How do I stop it from getting worse. Right now I just crate them both up to eat but I think that is a bandage and not fixing the issue.
Can this help me if the resource guarding often happens during walks? Can your boot camp help me if I use a wheelchair
Does this apply to resource guarding for dogs, no reactiveness to me?
Understandably, but how do you remove the dog from the place he has been "Resource Guarding?", ie the Couch, the Bed, his Bedding, his Toys, his Food, an item of moms he has just decided to pick up and claim or destroy last sadly not least every now and then the Hallway mom needs to go thru/pass to enter the restroom. All this in the home the 3 of us must share?!
This is a general question. I’d like to see more information on the Danish Mastiff/Broholmer
I deal with this with my English Bull Terrier. She’s 10 months old now and she resource guards certain things. What she’s most crazy about is her vomit. The two or 3 times she’s thrown up it was a very scary situation for me to get her away from it. Especially one time she ate some unidentifiable berries from the yard and I gave her a couple tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to make her throw up.
Will this also help with dogs who resource guard towards other dogs?
Is the bootcamp no longer available? I have a 2 year old boerboel that lost his mind and I need to correct this ASAP
This but bullmastiff
Always ensured my puppies never did this. My rescue tried it, I took food away and pretended to eat it. I repeated this until it stopped. I used to use my hand as an extension of my mouth and but my hand around its muzzle and let go when submitted. Food always got taken up after 20 mins max. Leftover food was stored & not given until next mealtime. Never got picky with food again, or resource guarded
would this apply to bone guarding too? my 4 month old rottie just showed resource guarding over the bone. it was scary. so i can either leave him alone while he is eating it (went to grab the bone to take the paper off of it) or not give him a bone ever. he doesn't do it with food. just high value treats ( has happened twice) like you said what if my baby went over to him and he got bit.
I’m on the same boat. My Japanese akita never resource guards over food only WHEN he gets high value treats like raw meaty bones. It’s so heartbreaking.
If you haven't found an answer, I suggest watching Robert Cabral's video on resource guarding. You want to have a bone in both hands, and let your dog chew on one while you are holding it. www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D467Wdi_JbwQ&ved=2ahUKEwi_qdb5wub3AhUJkmoFHRtQCY8Qz40FegQIBBAI&usg=AOvVaw0Qd4ou63kqZyf6fX8X5Tnk
Do not leave babies alone with dogs ever. That is responsible dog ownership and responsible parenting. Teach your children to not ever try to take anything from the dog and they should be supervised at all times. What is it hear breaking that your dog loves a high value treat or bone? It’s natural. Stop trying to take it off them and let them enjoy it in peace.
I have a 7 month old Cane Corse/Pit Bull (Dutton) mix puppy. He is a quick learner, eager to please... Well trained dog. I've had him for just over 4 months. In the last 3 weeks I have started too notice that when ever my old dog a Beagle/Retriever mix(Jackson) tries to get close too me... Dutton gets protective. I've tried to correct it by getting between them, being loud and letting Dutton know that I am in charge. Tonight for the first time Dutton stood his ground, he didn't act aggressive towards me, but he also did not let up... He put his shoulders forward and continued too death stare Jackson and growl... I have him trained too 'Look at me' when he is commanded to do so... he does but even after I try to reset the situation he still will not let Jackson close too me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Do you offer any discounts on courses?
Will, how do you stop it with other dogs when my dog has a ball / stick and my dog snaps at them?
I cant wait to get a dog and use your techniques. I know you're very busy but I did write you again recently with a important question. I apologise if I'm being impertinent.
Great video! We’re dealing with this now but our 10 month old sheepadoodle is resource guarding (quite aggressively) towards our 7 year old dog. I have done all that you are talking about and it has helped so much with the beginning of resource guarding with humans but now we don’t know what to do to fix the resource guarding towards our other dog. It’s just with food and one time with water. Please help!
I have same question, how do I stop my dog from guarding her food or my food while I'm cooking in the kitchen from the cats?
What if my puppy doesn’t t have any aggression towards me. The problem is with other dogs. I noticed it with my male Anatolian shepherd with his sister and my Akita. He’ll finish his food and go to the next pups bowl, back hair goes up, he growls, shows teeth until he gets the bowl to himself. I had to start separate feeding them to stop the situation entirely
what do you do if its gaurding people in the house hold from a new puppy?
I just brought home a six year old rescue husky (with signs of abuse), and am having these issues too... not just with food.
He seems to be transferring those issues to just about everything.
We haven't even been able to touch him.
He's bitten me and my partner both in the last few days, and only sometimes displays any kind of warning; and that is usually a look less than a second before a snap. Goes from nowhere to immediately biting and latching on.
We're not beginner owners, but this behaviour is way our of our league to handle at this point.
Poor dog.
I just don't know if I am capable of helping him, and my partner has become despondent, and it hasn't even been a week yet. I know it will take time, but how many bites is enough, when it's creating a lifetime of fear connections in the owner?
Wish I didn't live on the other side of the world.
Do you know anyone working as a behaviourist or trainer in New Zealand (Wellington region) who uses your techniques and you would recommend, to help?
Hey how’s your situation? Really hope it worked oht
Great explanation of the behavior and some basic work. I have a GSD who does not guarded stuff from me but does from other dogs (food, treats, space, and access to me). I'm assuming I need to work even more at being boss in more of his actions and decisions, but not sure what that training would look like since he doesn't guard against me.
What about if it’s resource guarding with my children he doesn’t do it with me or my bf but has snipped at my kids over food and a bone. I do not want it to progress to toys also. The youngest cannot talk yet.
Our 2 yr old bulldog has started Resource guarding the couches, his sister’s beg and any object he gets his mouth on. We have been trying to stop it or control the environment but he gets aggressive and resource guards against us the humans. He’s not like that to our other dog though. I would appreciate to see what you recommend we do or if we should see a veterinary behaviorist. I don’t want our dog to become out of control
My old dog won't do it with me, but like you said with my Toddler he will. Or other animals
My dog doesn’t have resource guarding from his food or comfy spots but when he has a high valued treat, bone or sometimes rubbish he’s found/ stolen he will show those traits. How I deal with it currently is to swap the object for a treat but am worried I am reinforcing the behaviour or that he is doing this for a treat. (Dog breed is working line retriever)
I have a new golden puppy with the same problem. Today I purposely gave him a chew skin he values heavily. Once he’s working on it I will put my hand close and absolutely ignore his growls and even his warning bite that he gives me. Then I’ll grab the skin while he chews. Then eventually I’ll take it, then give it back. Kept going for multiple repetitions, at different intervals. Pretty soon he’ll let me take it with no aggression. Then maybe he will show aggression but I stay disciplined and ignore all of it. It’s a learned behavior that I’m trying to show won’t work with me and is unnecessary
Amazing video 👌🏻
what about resource guarding between dogs
My dog has food aggression aggression with certain resources.I thought he was getting better but he was very bad with my teenage daughter.This has happened in the past when I'm not in the room when she's tried to get something off him he had a lolly yesterday.i feel he doesn't see her as a leader I worry about my other children too.my dog is ten months old .How do I also get my dog to respect my kids also not just me
My dog is nowhere near aggressive toward me and doesn’t resource guard anything from me, but he resource guards his toys with other dogs and sometimes the cat. He’s not aggressive with other animals until his toys are involved and I don’t know why. His toys have never been taken from him by us or other animals unless destroyed and he’s never been deprived of anything. He respects people and loves people engaging with him and food and him and toys. He just despises other animals near his stuff. It freaking sucks. He’s well trained and I’ve been training him since he was 8 weeks old. He’s a 17 mo gsd with 47ish solid commands. I’m at a loss because no matter how far we get in training, we can’t get to the point of at least neutrality with other animals around his toys.
My problem is after sit and stay and the food is given my bloodhound/gsd/white swiss/chinook she still growls and scarfs down her food to the point she stuffs her mouth then has to cough it back out. No one is near her or I might walk by or the cats might look at her.Could you do something on Bloodhounds and crosses?
So my 5 month old american bully XL has just started resource guarding (1) bones / knuckles (2) people (but only from the other male dog in my house)
I am unable to access your boot camp or the puppy course. I have tried to open it on google, google chrome & safari and I keep getting the message that the site is unable to be reached. I live in Canada, is it not available here?
10months old german shepherd has all of a sudden got bad with this but I am working on it offering him a treat if he gives me the bone an guna repeat this until I limit the treats
How do you reduce ressource guarding (for example on the sofa) without getting bitten (when removing the dog)?
Keep your dog on a thin leash so that you can easily remove them from the sofa.
My akita puppy is only aggressive towards my other dog when it comes to toys and thats it. Can i train with this same technique?
My 4 month old Dalmatian just started to resource guard food and toys with my other dog :( and my other dog is really small and I’m afraid he can hurt her.