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Writer's pictureDexter Sim

Resource Guarding in Dog!


What is Resource Guarding in dog?

Resource Guarding refers to a dog who will growl, nips, snaps, bites, charges, barks at people and owner by guarding his prized possession. The items that being guarded are resources that the dog thinks that it’s of high value to him and the dog wants you to stay away from his treasures, It can be food, toys, favourite place or something human.

Resource Guarding or Being Possessive is not only a puppy issue, sometimes it plagues an adult dog.

This improper behaviour is unwanted and needs to address immediately before someone gets a nasty bite.

Having a Puppy or Dog that has resource guarding or possessiveness, you are confronted with both a good and bad news. As in a coin bears 2 sides to it, Dogs that are having issues can have 2 sided story or news.

The positive news is that this behaviour issue of resource guarding can be overcome through proper thought-out training processes.

And the negative news is most Dog Trainers believes if a puppy exhibits such resource guarding issues, it will lead to full bloom aggression, but I differ.

Tips to overcome Resource Guarding or Being Possessive

Feeding Time Mealtime is always a RED ZONE for the owner with resource guarding dog.

Reasons Mealtime is always a golden opportunity because the food is of very high value to your dog and when he feels you are going to take away his food, he will guard and fight for his wins. Food to a dog is very important.

Ways to Overcome My suggestion is to feed your dog or puppy in some incremental.

Step 1- I would recommend you feed your puppy in many meals, maybe you can split your puppy’s meals into 5-6 segments. You might want to start feeding by just a handful through hand feeding. This way, your puppy will have nothing to guard.

Step 2 - You proceed to feed the same handful of food by serving through a bowl. This will let your puppy knows, he can eat from his puppy but no chance to resource guard.

Step 3 - After feeding a handful serving on his bowl, you can TOP up another handful of food through a spoon. If he doesn’t resource guard, he will get to eat more per serving, if not, we will go back to step 2 to work on it again.

Step 4 - If by now, your puppy is not displaying any resource guarding, you can start feeding in 2 bowls per serving. Give him the first bowl with food, let him eat, and replace the bowl with the 2nd serving.

By now, your puppy resource guarding or possessiveness would have been taken care of. Continue to work on your puppy for food exchanges, toy exchanges exercises, this will teach your puppy a good habit to let go in order to get back something.

If you have a problem and need to seek professional advice, please call Dexter at 8774 0168 or email to pupsdex@gmail.com for further discussion.

Have fun & stay positive!

Dexter Sim Dog Agility Instructor

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