[00:00:00] Staci Lemke: Has your puppy ever growled at you when you reach for their chew toy? Stiffened up over their food when you get near or snatched a sock and run away to protect it like Gollum from Lord of the Rings? Has your puppy may have even gone as far as snapping at you when you went to take something away from them?
[00:00:15] Staci Lemke: Don’t panic, you’re not alone and you’re not raising a bad dog either. Today we’re tackling a behavior that can really take new puppy parents by surprise. Resource guarding. Hello and welcome back to the Well-Mannered Mutt Podcast, the show that helps you raise a well-mannered, confident puppy using kind science-backed training.
[00:00:38] Staci Lemke: In this episode, we’re gonna talk about what resource guarding is, what it looks like, why it’s actually a normal behavior, what you can do to prevent it, and how to handle it if it does show up. So let’s dig in. Welcome to the Well-Mannered but podcast. I’m Staci Lemke, certified professional dog trainer, registered veterinary technician, and proud owner of Manners for Mutts dog training.
[00:01:04] Staci Lemke: With over 20 years of experience, I’ve helped countless dog owners just like you, build stronger, happier relationships with their furry friends. From private lessons to online courses, I’m here to help make life with your dog easier and more rewarding. I believe in training that is kind. Fun and scientifically proven positive reinforcement is at the core of everything I do because it’s the most effective way to teach your dog while strengthening your bond.
[00:01:32] Staci Lemke: Whether you’re tackling basic training, solving behavior challenges, or just looking for tips to keep your pup thriving. You are in the right place. So let’s dive into today’s episode and take the first step toward having the well-mannered mutt you’ve always dreamed of. Resource guarding is when a dog feels the need to protect something that they see as valuable.
[00:01:55] Staci Lemke: I. Such as food, toys, chewies, or even a person or a comfy spot on the couch. It’s not about dominance, it’s about fear of losing access to something important. And guarding can show up in subtle ways like freezing when someone approaches eating faster, when a person walks by or turning their body to block an item.
[00:02:16] Staci Lemke: Or you may see more obvious signs like growling, lunging, or snapping in puppies. This might start as a low grumble when you try to take away a chewy. Or a little snatch and run game when they think you’re gonna grab a forbidden object that they’ve stolen. Now, why do puppies guard things in the first place?
[00:02:34] Staci Lemke: And that’s a great question. Puppies aren’t born knowing the rules of sharing. In fact, in large litters, they often have to compete for food space and attention. So it makes sense that they might get a little defensive over what they think might disappear if they don’t hold onto it tightly. Guarding your stuff is natural.
[00:02:51] Staci Lemke: It’s how wild animals survive in the wild. If you don’t guard your resources, you are not gonna live very long. And before you start thinking that this is just a dog problem, let me ask you, have you ever snapped at someone for taking the last french fry off your plate? Without asking, do you lock your phone so no one can read your texts?
[00:03:09] Staci Lemke: Do you get annoyed when someone sits in your spot on the couch that’s resource guarding? Human style. We all have things we consider ours, and we don’t always like it when others take them without permission. Dogs aren’t being bad. They’re just expressing a very normal instinct in their own doggy way.
[00:03:27] Staci Lemke: But that doesn’t mean we want resource guarding to continue with the dogs we live with. Fortunately, resource guarding is both preventable and fixable with the right approach. The easiest thing to do when you have a new puppy is to prevent the guarding behavior from happening in the first place. And here are a few ways that we can help your puppy feel secure instead of protective.
[00:03:47] Staci Lemke: Nobody ever gets a puppy and says, I can’t wait to clean up my first potty mess. I. If you are a new puppy owner, you know that potty training can be frustrating and stressful for both you and your new puppy. If you’re ready to stop feeling overwhelmed with puppy potty training, then my online course, easy Peasy Puppy Potty training is for you.
[00:04:08] Staci Lemke: In this course, you’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to potty train your puppy with less stress and less mess. Head over to Manners for mutts.com/potty training to learn more.
[00:04:25] Staci Lemke: Teach your puppy that humans near their stuff is a good thing. Just like you’d appreciate someone refilling your coffee cup when they come near rather than snatching it away. Your puppy will learn to trust you. If your presence means bonus treats, practice trades. Imagine someone asking for your TV remote, but offering you a cupcake in return.
[00:04:45] Staci Lemke: That’s the mindset we wanna create in puppies. Giving this up gets me something better. Add, don’t subtract. Be a giver, not a taker. Walk by when your puppy is chewing in a toy and toss them a treat. Show them that people around their stuff equals more, not less. Avoid the grab and go. We wouldn’t like it if someone snatched our phone out of our hands, and puppies don’t like that either.
[00:05:07] Staci Lemke: If they learn that people steal things, they learn to guard instead trade them the object that they have for something else that they value, like a treat or a different toy. Work on cues, like drop it and leave it and always pair those cues with a reward so your puppy learns it’s really worth it to give things up.
[00:05:27] Staci Lemke: But what if my puppy already guards things? If you’re already seeing some guarding behavior, take a breath. It’s okay. You can still help your puppy feel safer and more secure. Here’s how stop confronting. Don’t punish growling. It’s a warning sign. If you punish the growl, your pup might skip right to biting next time.
[00:05:48] Staci Lemke: Punishing the puppy for growling is kind of like taking the batteries out of your smoke alarm. It won’t prevent the fire from happening. Start slow and rebuild trust by being a giver, not a taker. When your puppy is eating or chewing, walk by and drop a few treats and then walk away. Practice trading your pup for the object they have for a toy or a piece of food, and avoid hovering over them or reaching for them too quickly when they have a valuable object.
[00:06:14] Staci Lemke: Manage the environment. Give your puppy space to eat or chew without feeling threatened. Use baby gates, crates, or safe spots where no one will bug them and make sure everyone in the house leaves the puppy alone when they’re eating. There’s absolutely no reason to bother your pup when they’re eating by putting your hands in their dish or taking it away.
[00:06:33] Staci Lemke: In fact, by doing that is a great way to create a resource guarding dog. Work with a pro. If the guarding is intense, it’s worth reaching out to a qualified, positive reinforcement trainer. This is totally fixable with the right plan. Remember, resource guarding is rooted in anxiety, not stubbornness, aggression or dominance.
[00:06:53] Staci Lemke: It’s a normal natural survival behavior, not something malicious. When we respond with patience and compassion, we can teach our puppies that they don’t need to protect their stuff from us. Teaching trust around food, toys and other treasures is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your puppy, and it pays off for years to come.
[00:07:15] Staci Lemke: If you found this episode helpful, please share it with a fellow puppy parent. Leave a review or tag me on Instagram at Manners for Mutts. I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Thank you for joining me today and taking the time to help your dog become a more well-mannered mutt. If you’ve got questions about today’s episode or an idea for a topic you’d love to hear about, let’s connect.
[00:07:38] Staci Lemke: You can find me on Facebook and Instagram at Manners for Mutts. Also, be sure to visit manners for mutts.com for links, resources, and more. If this episode helped you and your pup, I’d be thrilled if you left a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps me create even more content to support you and your furry friend.
[00:08:00] Staci Lemke: Talk to you next time.
