Behavior: Guarding

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Guarding is when a dog aggressively protects something precious to him--most commonly food, toys, or a favorite spot in the house (such as his bed). It's triggered when a person or animal gets so close that the dog feels he's in danger of losing this valuable resource. Think of the Cocker Spaniel who growls as you approach his bowl of kibble or the Retriever who snaps if you reach for his chew toy. Growling, lip curling, snarling, direct eye contact, and freezing in place are all signs that a dog will snap or bite if pushed past the point he can tolerate.

Causes

The reason dogs guard their resources is very straightforward: they don't want to lose something valuable. Part of this is instinctual--in the wild, protecting one's hard-won food was very important. But the behavior can also be learned: "The last time I let that tennis ball out of my sight, it was taken away--I'd better not let anyone near it."

How to treat the problem

Important: Working on an existing guarding problem can be dangerous. To avoid getting bitten, don't do any of these exercises without the guidance of a skilled dog behaviorist or trainer.

In most cases, desensitization is the preferred way to treat guarding. Whether it's his food bowl, a tennis ball, or the chair by the window, the idea is to create positive associations between the resource and the approach of a person (or people).

Physically punishing, scolding, or taking away the food or toy does not work--these techniques only reinforce the idea that your dog needs to be aggressive in order to protect his resource.

To treat food guarding

• Start the desensitization process at mealtime.
• Keep a safe distance--"safe" meaning the distance you must remain from your dog in order for him not to demonstrate any guarding behavior--and offer him a treat he finds utterly irresistible. (The rule is that the treat must be something much more exciting than the kibble he's having for dinner.)
• Allow him to take the treat and return to his meal.
• Repeat this exercise over the course of many meals, gradually moving closer and closer to his food bowl. Approach from different angles and vary the treats he receives, and keep at it until you can casually meander right up to his food bowl and drop in a treat without any aggressive displays whatsoever.