Is Your Dog Stealing & Guarding Objects? Here’s What to Do

Dogs are perhaps one of the most lovable animals you could ever meet! By giving your furry companion the right amount of care and love, they’ll instantly form a deep connection with you as you train, play, exercise, and live together. Indeed, the bond you create with your dear pet will last a lifetime.

One of the primary reasons why dogs are among the best pets to have is because they have a lot of love to give—they’ll cuddle, eat with, and comfort you whether you feel alone or not. As long as you have a dog by your side, life will undoubtedly be brighter and better! 

However, although the dog’s ability to form attachments with their owners and possessions plays a vital role in maintaining a good relationship at home, it could also pose a problem for some. Once your dog exhibits violent behavior because of something they value greatly, then you have a potentially dangerous situation in your hands!

1. When Your Dog Becomes Violently Possessive

Every dog tends to fixate on something and become attached to it—your pet could consider a blanket, sock, or your shirt as a valuable possession. 

Be that as it may, it’s crucial to remember that even though it’s normal for your dog to have things they view as valuable, biting, lunging, or growling when you try to retrieve it from them is not. If your dog has confronted you with their teeth bared, growling, and seeming to threaten to bite or lunge at you, then they may have a resource guarding problem. 

Resource guarding or possessive aggression refers to a dog’s reaction when they feel they’re about to lose something. Possessive aggression doesn’t always lead to fighting, biting, or growling—any behavior of your dog that discourages someone from taking or getting too close to a valued object or area is considered resource guarding.

2. How to Change Resource Guarding Behavior

Fortunately, your pet’s resource guarding is a behavior that can be corrected! With the proper training, they’ll eventually be able to act much less aggressively so that you can bond and play with them safely again.

Here are a few great dog training tips that can help stop your dog’s resource guarding:

2.1 Work With a Dog Trainer

The first step to overcoming this behavioral problem is to connect with a certified and qualified dog trainer or behavior consultant. A professional will assess the severity of your dog’s case and help you through the proper steps to take moving forward.

2.2 Manage Their Environment

Of course, a dog trainer alone won’t be able to help your dog with their resource guarding—you also have to do your part! As such, we recommend changing the environment to remove your dog’s access from things they’ve become possessive over.

Once you’ve blocked off their access to their valuable objects and have managed the environment, it will become easier to train them.

2.3 Carry Out Desensitization and Counterconditioning Training

This is crucial to solving your pet’s possessive aggression behavior, as this will aim to change your dog’s emotional response to your approach and removal of their valuable item. Through this type of training, you’ll be able to replace their fear of losing the object with excitement over something that’s about to happen.

The main concern with desensitization and counterconditioning is that it’s very easy to rush through the process, so make sure to work closely with a dog trainer for this approach.

3. Conclusion

Resource guarding is never pleasant for any dog owner to experience—it instills a sense of fear within you that shouldn’t be present in your relationship with your pet. Moreover, failing to change your dog’s aggressive behavior can lead to a much more serious problem that involves you getting harmed. Luckily, with our great dog training tips and the help of a dog trainer, you and your dog will be able to overcome their behavioral problem in no time!
Do you want to learn how to train your dog but don’t know where to start? Then, our tips may be able to help you! We at The Pets People have a solid library of practical, real-life ideas and training tips covering many different subjects and pet animals. Browse our dog articles today!