Comments on: Rescue Dog Series (Part 1): 5 Ways to Help Your Dog Overcome Resource Guarding Behavioral Issues

By: Doggy Dan

Doggy Dan — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 21:50:01 +0000

Here’s a great place to start. The Reactivity Webinar happens weekly on Wednesday and Sunday at 3pm EST (USA time). The link for the webinar is here, and you can choose this week or the following week: https://theonlinedogtrainer.com/reactivity-webinar/
If you register, you’ll get the recording via email after the webinar

By: Sally Watkins

Sally Watkins — Sat, 08 Feb 2025 01:41:44 +0000

Hi I have a 19mth old Tibetan Terrier who I imported from Sweden. I think she came over at the wrong time in her development i.e flight or fight mode as she is generally very nervous in so many ways. She was terrified of traffic and would climb up my leg when a car went past, she also wouldn’t let anyone approach her and she wouldn’t approach anyone of her own accord. I took her to puppy classes and the first night she hid under a chair and it wasn’t until the 3rd week she took a treat off one of the trainers. That course finished so we took her to another class and it was the same performance, however, we kept going and she loved it so much she started pulling me through the door. However, I also have two other Tibetan Terriers also girls mother and daughter who are very bonded. Frida the 19mth old adores Elsie the middle one and they play and get on very well, Elsie can play with toys with her with no issues. But the most worrying thing Frida
does is she food guards but only around Elsie’s mum Lexie who is 11. Lexie is top dog but is the sweetest girl and my heart dog and I love her more than I could put into words. What usually happens is I will be sitting eating a sandwich for lunch and Frida may be next to me on the sofa, Lexie will walk in and sit in front of me and Frida starts to growl, usually I can intercept it and guide Lexie away and avoid any confrontation, but tonight Frida lept off the sofa and attacked Lexie, my husband pulled them apart and Frida bit him in the process. She is the smallest of the three but as a breed they are very strong and she is like a pocket rocket. This is not the first time she has attacked Lexie and it is usually when I am sitting eating something. She is fed alone in her crate for her meals as the first time we put her bowl down to feed the three of them together when she first arrived with us she took one look at Lexie and went for her. I think she also guards me or me and my husband, because there have been a couple of incidences where he has taken her to training class alone and when he has arrived home and put her down in the hall she has again gone for Lexie, she has also done this when my husband and myself have been out with her. We came to the conclusion that because she had our undivided attention on that particular day she was jealous and didn’t want to share us with the other two on arriving home. We have had various different people to the house at great expense to see if we can sort out her issues but so far no one has actually helped us and we are now at the point that if something can’t be done we may have to rehome her as it is a very stressful situation to live with. Any advice you can offer would be gratefully appreciated.
Kind regards

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:34:59 +0000

In reply to Tracy Brooks.

Hi Tracy, one thing to review is the way you start your walk….before you have even left your property. Making sure your dog is not over-excited and pulling on the leash can have a BIG impact on her behaviour when she is on a walk. Whilst you are working on this behaviour try giving her a little extra space when you are passing other dogs. You don’t necessarily have to cross the Street but let her excitement level dictate how comfortable she is with proximity towards other dogs. She may just need a bit of a re-set to allow her to calm down and learn to tolerate other dogs in view…before you bring her too close. Also be aware that a wagging tail may not represent a ‘happy’ dog…..it generally means a dog’s adrenaline level has risen and that can happen when a dog is feeling unhappy as well!
For additional assistance my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com deals with this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

By: Tracy Brooks

Tracy Brooks — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 15:11:19 +0000

Dan, my medical assist mini Aussie spent time with my sons badly behaving Jack Russell. Now when her and I go for walks she is barking and lunging at other dogs. I’ve done the calm freeze I’ve tried consistently removing her until she becomes calm. She will even greet the other dog with wagging tails and sniffing then she growls, barks and lunges. Ive never had my aussies with this type of behaviour problem. I’m absolutely lost. There is no aggression coming from the other dog that I’m aware of, but now I’m apologizing for her behaviour and she is going to lose her service status if I can’t fix this. I need guidance to know what to do, so I don’t make this worse.

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 00:30:50 +0000

In reply to Peggy Smith. Hi Peggy! Dogs who resource guard one of their owners, especially from other members of the family, are doing so for very similar reasons as they would food or toys....it's a bit of a power play. If your dog is doing this then calmly remove him from the room so that he learns he will lose you as a result of that behaviour. Try not to get upset and tell him off, I find that calm and consistent actions work much better when teaching a dog to use more self-control and change their behaviour. There is another major cause for this type of behaviour and my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will shows you very clearly what is going on and how to overcome it…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

By: Peggy Smith

Peggy Smith — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 04:45:32 +0000

What if the resource the dog is guarding is YOU! My dog will show aggressive behavior towards my husband. This has been going on for the 3 years that we’ve had him. We assume he came from an abusive household, probably the husband abusing the wife. My husband can pet him, take him for walks, feed him, but as soon as my dog sees or hears my husband coming, he’s on guard. What can we do?!

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Tue, 04 May 2021 06:33:32 +0000

In reply to Privina Sexton.

Hi Privina….it can be a really overwhelming time for puppies as they settle into their new home and get used to their new family members…and life without their Mum & Siblings. Harley’s behaviour is something you can overcome but the changes start with the humans in the family first. One quick tip, rather than your boys approach Harley to give him affection have them invite Harley to them to do so instead. Also, if he is sleeping or resting he should not be disturbed…..no matter how cute he looks! Learning to look at the world through Harley’s eyes, and providing him with relevant information, is key in helping him become a happy and well behaved dog. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best Doggy Dan

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Tue, 04 May 2021 06:26:18 +0000

In reply to Lateesha.

Thanks for your feedback Lateesha and I’m really glad you enjoy my Blogs and Videos. I love doing them because if I can provide information that helps owners understand their dog’s better then both lives are improved…..the dog is calmer and better behaved, and the owner is happier! We’d love to have you be part of our Dog Trainer Academy…All the Best, Doggy Dan

By: Dog Trainer Doggy Dan

Dog Trainer Doggy Dan — Tue, 04 May 2021 06:19:08 +0000

In reply to Bhavesh. Hi Bhavesh...when a dog's senses start to diminish it can leave them feeling vulnerable and a common side-effect of this is that they over-react in certain circumstances. Survival is far more important when dogs are feeling vulnerable and food is the ultimate in ensuring they live another day. If your dog is feeling particularly vulnerable at meal times then consider feeding her in a separate area to your other dogs, so she can eat in peace without the worry of anyone potentially trying to steal her food. All the Best, Doggy Dan

By: Privina Sexton

Privina Sexton — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 20:20:10 +0000

Hi Dan,

My puppy Harley is a 3 month old australian labradoodle. We brought him home when he was 8 weeks old.
He is the first puppy I had ( had a few before )that I am lost with handling him… He is aggressive towards my boys, with me and my husband. He has bitten everyone in the house to the point it broke our skin and bleed.. He is ‘kinder’ to me and Husband than my boys..
He growls, sometimes lunges and even bites when my boys (12 and 13) walks towards him to pat , carry or even play. His resource guarding during feeding time is scary! I have started on giving him some food in his bowl and then slowly feed him using my hands… he has slightly improved but still very aggressive. He jumped at me when i tried petting him after he finished his meal by saying “good Harley”.
I am afraid that he will grow to being a aggressive Dog.
Pls advise what to do or what am i doing wrong …

By: Bhavesh

Bhavesh — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 06:18:24 +0000

My dog has been living with us for the last 7 years. She developed cataracts due to which her vision has deteriorated. After this issue, she became possessive with foods. Here I want to clear this that she is living with 3 others dogs with her. They are like family and there isn’t any aggression between them.
Still, my dog has developed a resource guarding behavior with foods, snacks, and even her empty bowl.

By: Lateesha

Lateesha — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 02:04:00 +0000

Great article, recently adopted a beautiful black Bull Mastiff X Great Dane, due to his size and colour most people aren’t too eager to invade his space (which is fortunate), but he is really an easy going softy. He does suffer from fear aggression, as he has never been walked previously, but using The Dog Calming Code, he is progressing nicely and looking to me for guidance. Love all your blogs and videos and am currently looking at starting your Dog Trainer Academy.