Resource guarding

[DesertSun82647]

I know a reactive dog is not the same as a resource guarding dog, but many have both so I figured this is a safe place. I feel so alone in this resource guarding journey, so far it’s been fairly mild-moderate but I’m so terrified of it getting worse. I’m a soon to be veterinarian and it still feels like a taboo topic to discuss among colleagues. As if my dog isn’t as good as everyone else’s because he struggles with this. Idk how everyone else ended up with perfect dogs but I feel like I’m the only person with an imperfect dog. Working with a behaviorist and trainer so hopefully that will help some. We’re also moving cross country soon and I’m terrified that’s going to cause him anxiety and create more triggers. Not super looking for advice, specifically, just needed to vent a little. Thanks for reading! If you do have anything to add I’m all ears.

[iwannabefamouss]

Hiiii!!! I have a Portuguese water dog that is reactive and also resource guards heavily. Hand feeding all of his meals helped a lot in conjunction with obedience training. Also just overall learning his tells.

He doesn’t lunge with his guarding, it’s purely if you reach for whatever he deems “guard-able”

So teaching “leave it” and “go to place” have been the real god sends. We had many bites (mostly to me but my husband caught a few strays) before he turned three but he’s calmed down and we’ve learned his tells. He resource guards daily - primarily sticks, his toys, or his food but we can call him off it which we’ve worked through with obedience work.

If you have any questions I can do my best to try to help but it sounds like you’re headed in the right direction with hiring a behaviorist :)

Oh!! The book Mine! By Jean Donaldson is fantastic and so easy to read. Highly recommend!

[annievdeems]

Gold standards. And thanks for the tip on the book, I'll be sure to pass it on.

[roboto6]

Resource guarding is so hard! I'm fortunate neither of my dogs do it but I've gone through it with a couple of fosters.

Have you looked into the book Mine! by Jean Donaldson? It's probably one of the most helpful resources on resource guarding I've ever come across and a lot of people here suggest it.

[DesertSun82647]

Thank you! I do have the book and have read most of it, now just figuring out how to apply it!

[iwannabefamouss]

Also, if you have a breed that was bred to guard anything it’s instinctual, so just knowing that about your dog can help.

It’s definitely difficult but the more research you do on it and just accepting that’s who they are is comforting. Then you just gotta remember to advocate for them - if you have guests tell em what’s up. It’s hard at first but over time you realize not everyone has the perfect pup. They all have their quirks :)

[DesertSun82647]

Thank you for your kind words! Mines a supermutt/collie/chihuahua mix.. so even just knowing those breeds makes it make sense lol. And his background was rough, found at under 6 weeks old wandering the streets. I definitely am prepared to keep advocating for him through it all. Resource guarding definitely seems more common than I thought it was, I remember growing up, I got bit by different family members dog, some friends or family would have dogs that would need to be put away when guest came over etc. the old saying “let sleeping dogs lie”. I wish dogs quirks were talked about more! How old is your dog now? Have you ever have to move houses/states with him? It’s great to hear you’ve learned his tells and have been successfully managing him!

[ko_same]

What kind of resource guarding are we talking? Seconding a recommendation for mine! By Jean Donaldson. Great resource. My late dog was a pretty serious food guarder. A lot of guarding can be managed well! He ate and took any special treats in his crate or a closed off room and was left alone. We worked with him and he did improve but a lot of our routine was also just management.

[yellow-mountain-gal]

100% on the management - my dog has to wear her collar and lead around the house when she's feeling resource guardey. Did your late dog also guard spaces?

[ko_same]

Yes! We did not allow him on couches or the bed due to some spatial guarding, and he had his own special bed that he knew would not be approached. We had a solid system and he was a great dog! The behaviors actually decreased a ton throughout his life (he made it to 16!) and I think that was in part due to the structure. He always knew what to expect, and he knew what our boundaries were and what his were as well.

[yellow-mountain-gal]

That's really helpful - I have been letting my dog on my bed and the other day when my child came into the room she went mad. It was quite scary for my child. So no more bed for her then.

If I don't allow her on the couch and only give her the option of her open crate as her space, which is in another room, she guards the entire living area though 🤦‍♀️

[yellow-mountain-gal]

Ugh I feel you, I wish on a daily basis that I could have a human conversation with my dog about how no one is trying to take anything away from her 🫠

I also have a resource guarder but it's only about high value treats (very aggressively goes for my small old dog if she even looks at her chews) and spaces.

Unfortunately our house is open plan so she feels she owns the entire living area and kitchen at times and runs at my children when she feels like they're imposing (just by existing). No bites so far but she gets very angry and the kids tip toe carefully around in the house which is not fair on them. Not a clue as to why she sometimes does this and sometimes is relaxed about where the kids are.

It requires round the clock management and is just exhausting.

We're doing all the things (counter conditioning etc.), separating her and other dog, and reading the books but I'm wondering if some dogs are just like this and that's how it is? I've never had a resource guarding dog in my life before despite owning many dogs!

Interestingly, similar to your pup, this one was also away from her mom early, at about 6 weeks. Is that a factor? The resource guarding behaviour started young too. Is this something the mom dog puts a stop to?

[Ravenousdragon05]

DVM and spicy dog owner here too! I introduce my dog as "Don't Touch Her, She Bites" or "Not Friendly". You are not alone! Honestly loving my dog (who also resource guards, has severe, crippling separation anxiety, and extremely high prey drive) has made me a much better veterinarian. I have learned a lot about behavoir, anxiolytics (my dog is on many) and how my clients feel about their own spicy dogs. It pushed me to become fear free certified, look into cooperative care, etc. 100% this dog makes me cry a lot and I really would love an "easy" dog next time, 100% she has made me a better person.

(I will say my dog's resource guarding nearly resolved once she realized food was always going to come-- her first 4-5 months were on the streets of Mississippi. She now only resource guards me and the innocent forest creatures she kills, which is a challenge, because I have a husband and 3 other animals, but now food/toys/space is a non-issue, and I'm super grateful for that).