About Dog Guarding

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...

Dog Guarding

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• It's mine! How to reduce object guarding

  March 31st, 2011

  You and your buddy are out on a walk when Fido spots a tennis ball rolling his way. He lunges forward, grabs the ball in his teeth, and gruffly growls, "It's mine." Canine Possession Aggression (CPA) comes in two forms--food guarding and object guarding, the act of assertively protecting toys, chew...

• Curb your dog's guarding behavior

  March 31st, 2011

  Who owns the kibble in your house, once it hits the dog bowl? Does Rover run you out of the kitchen when he is eating dinner? What happens if you need to take away a tasty rawhide? If food, bones or chewies turn your sweetie into a growling, snarling monster, then your dog has an issue with resource...

• "Can I stop my dog from guarding her food and toys?"

  Answered by Sheila Segurson

• Raising a puppy: Preventing object guarding

  May 20th, 2009

  Object-guarding, a common problem with family dogs, will develop throughout puppyhood if owners allow it to. Owners may fail to notice their adolescent dog becoming increasingly possessive and protective....