How Do Owners Promote Resource Guarding?

“Resource guarding around the food bowl is a common behavioural concern for dog owners. Surprisingly, there's a common mistake many of us make that inadvertently escalates the likelihood of resource guarding. Today, I'll share a simple technique to help decrease this problematic behaviour.” - Joe Wright

Understanding Resource Guarding

Resource guarding can stem from physical discomfort, a lack of trust and connection, or learned behaviour. In the case of learned behaviour, a dog may guard their resources because they anticipate negative experiences. This cause is often unintentionally reinforced by pet owners who interfere with their dog's food or presence during meals, inadvertently signalling to the dog that something negative may occur.

The Simple Solution

How can we adjust our actions to mitigate resource guarding? The key lies in altering the association your dog has with your presence during mealtime. If every time you approach your dog while they're eating, you disrupt their meal or take away their food, you inadvertently reinforce the notion that your presence equals a threat to their resources.

Conversely, if you add food to their bowl when you walk by, you create a positive association. With time, your dog learns that your presence during mealtime brings good things. By simply adding food instead of taking it away, we can help our dogs associate our presence with positive experiences and decrease the likelihood of resource guarding.

The Verdict

By fostering positive associations, we're not just addressing the symptoms of issues like resource guarding — we're tackling their root causes and preventing them from arising. Remember, as a caregiver to your furry companion, you represent good things.

Are you okay with that?

Are you okay with someone taking your food away mid-meal?

Or someone sticking their hand in your roast dinner on a Sunday?

I for one, certainly would not be!

The Value of Quality Information

Many pet owners unknowingly adopt practices that complicate matters further, often without realizing they're contributing to the problem. This is where the importance of learning from a qualified and accredited source becomes evident. Accurate information empowers you to better understand your pet's behavior and effectively manage associated challenges.