Author: Jeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, CAWA

In This Article Why Puppies and Dogs Chew View 1 More +

WRITTEN BYJeannine Berger, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, CAWA Veterinarian Dr. Berger obtained her veterinary degree and completed her doctoral thesis in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1998 she moved to California to work…,There’s no doubt that canines can cause destruction to your home and yard, depending on their size and breed. Although this is quite frustrating, destructive behavior in dogs has many different motivations. It could be normal canine behavior, and “fixing” it could be as easy as offering a dog more mental and physical enrichment. On the other hand, it could be very complex and require an immediate consultation with a veterinarian or veterinary behavior specialist to address any underlying anxieties. To address this behavior, you’ll need to become a behavior detective and observe your dog closely. Try to find out how they destroy things, what they destroy, and when they do it so you can make a plan to prevent future incidents. Let’s begin with the how.

Tips for Dealing With Resource Guarding in Dogs Don’t give your dog any high-value items unless he’s allowed to enjoy and finish them in peace. If your dog displays guarding behavior with a location (for example, the couch), don’t allow the dog access to that area. If a dog is resource guarding a favorite human (like you), immediately walk away from him as soon as he displays any subtle guarding behavior (such as staring) toward another person or dog. Don’t wait until the dog growls, barks, or lunges. Teach your dog early and often to trade items, and always use a higher-value item to trade. Teach cues such as “drop it” or “leave it.” In most cases, resource guarding can be easily managed and is only a problem when people try to confront the dog. But if a dog is showing any signs of aggression—and especially if he leaves the food or other item to proactively go after a person or another dog in the home—the underlying cause could be a medical condition, such as a gastrointestinal problem or anxiety, and will need to be addressed by a veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary behavior specialist.,When I brought Bo, a 9-month-old Australian Cattle Dog, home from the shelter, I placed his food bowl down and immediately knew I had a potential behavior problem to address. When I approached Bo while he was eating, he suddenly stopped eating, stiffened, hovered over the bowl, and I heard a deep growl. I realized I had just adopted a dog with signs of resource guarding.  What Is Resource Guarding in Dogs? Protecting a food source is within normal canine behavior. In a natural environment without humans, dogs are scavengers living in larger groups around food sources. Food protection behavior has evolved to keep other dogs away from a meal, and in most cases these behaviors are ritualistic. While a pup wants to keep his food away from fellow scavengers (including you or another animal in the house), his resource-guarding behaviors serve mainly as a threat display rather than actual aggression.  Even after thousands of years of domestication, these ritualistic behaviors continue to be displayed by some dogs. Our domesticated dogs can guard anything they consider a highly valued or scarce resource, such as food, toys, their dog bed or crate, or even a favorite human.