When Your Dog Guards You: What It Really Means
- Sara Scott
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Does your dog growl when someone approaches you on the couch? Snap when a friend tries to hug you? While it might look like jealousy or dominance, the reality is quite different and more manageable than you might think.
In my latest article for Bay Woof, I dive deep into the world of resource guarding when dogs guard their favorite people. This behavior isn't about your dog trying to be "alpha" or acting out of spite. Instead, it's typically rooted in insecurity and fear. Your dog is worried about losing access to something (or someone) they value deeply.
The Key Takeaways:
It's not dominance, it's insecurity. Dogs who guard their people are usually acting out of fear and a desire for control, not confidence or defiance.
Management comes first. The more your dog practices guarding behavior, the stronger it becomes. Simple changes like having family members move together rather than separately can prevent many guarding situations.
Training helps, but it takes time. Teaching cues like "off," "back up," or "go to bed" gives you non-confrontational ways to redirect your dog when tension builds.
Professional help matters. If your dog has made contact with teeth or the behavior is escalating, it's time to call in a qualified trainer or behavior consultant.
The good news? Resource guarding can improve significantly with the right approach. By combining smart management, helpful training, and carefully structured counterconditioning, many dogs learn to feel safer and less defensive around their favorite people.
For more insights on dog behavior and training, check out my other blog posts on Understanding Counterconditioning, Understanding Resource Guarding, and Confronting Aggression.
Have questions about your dog's guarding behavior? Feel free to reach out—every situation is unique, and sometimes a quick chat can help point you in the right direction.
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