“But I Did Everything Right”: When Traditional Resource Guarding Prevention Tips Backfire

Today I spoke with someone who was heartbroken.

“We did everything to prevent this,” they said. “We were told to stop him mid-meal so he’d get used to it. To take his food away and give it back. We always made sure we could take toys out of his mouth.”

Now, two years in, their dog is guarding food—and has bitten multiple family members.

They genuinely believed they were preventing a problem. In reality, they were unintentionally rehearsing one.

We’re All Resource Guarders

Let’s be honest—every one of us guards our resources.

We lock our homes at night. We double-check our pockets for our wallets. We password-protect our phones. If someone tried to take our dinner mid-bite, we wouldn’t respond with calm acceptance. If someone snatched our bag or phone—even if they gave it right back—we’d be cautious the next time they approached.

So imagine this:

You’re at your favourite restaurant, finally sitting down to enjoy the meal you’ve been looking forward to all day. Just as you’re about to take your second bite, the waiter walks over, says nothing, and takes your plate away. A few seconds later, they hand it back.

Would you feel relaxed? Or would you feel uneasy, maybe even defensive? Would you slow down next time—or pull your plate a little closer?

Or say you just got a brand-new phone, and someone suddenly snatches it from your hands. Even if they hand it back, you’ll probably pocket it the next time they come near.

That’s how many dogs feel when we interrupt meals, remove toys, or take things away without reason. It doesn’t build tolerance—it chips away at trust.

When Prevention Teaches Fear, Not Safety

There’s an old belief that if you take things away from your dog early and often, you’ll teach them not to guard. But for many dogs, that doesn’t build resilience—it builds mistrust.

Instead of learning “you’re safe,” they learn “you might take my stuff.”

What started as a well-intentioned plan to prevent guarding can become the very thing that creates it. And here’s the hardest part: it doesn’t take years of mistakes to create resource guarding. Sometimes, it only takes one moment—one high-stress situation—for trust to crack.

This family didn’t need to keep taking things to prevent guarding. They just needed their dog to feel safe. Now, that trust will take time to rebuild—but it can be rebuilt.

What Real Prevention Looks Like

If you're raising a puppy or welcoming a new dog, here’s what true, trust-based prevention looks like:

1. Be the Giver, Not the Taker

Approach your dog while they’re eating and add something delicious to the bowl. Don’t test them. Don’t tease. Just teach them that your presence brings good things.

2. Respect Their Space

Let your dog eat and chew in peace. Use calm, quiet areas. Separate dogs at mealtimes. This isn’t spoiling—it’s honouring their need to feel secure.

3. Understand That Genetics Play a Role

Resource guarding is not always a result of training mistakes or trauma. There is a strong genetic component. Some dogs are simply more predisposed to guarding than others. It’s part of their hardwiring—just like how some dogs are more sensitive to sound, or more energetic, or more interested in chasing things.

4. Understand Breed Tendencies

I often see resource guarding behaviours in gundog breeds—spaniels, retrievers, and other dogs bred to carry things in their mouths. These dogs often feel good simply by holding something. It’s soothing and instinctual. When we constantly take things from them—especially without consent—it creates internal conflict: they want to hold, but they learn that holding leads to confrontation.That conflict can escalate into growling or biting—but also into snatching, hiding, shredding, or even eating items just to avoid losing them.

5. Teach a Trade or a Retrieve

Rather than removing things by force, teach your dog that giving you an item is a good thing. Use food to trade up, or introduce a fun retrieve game where bringing something to you results in praise, play, or more access. This keeps the relationship cooperative, not confrontational, and gives your dog a safe way to let go of something they value.

6. Learn the Early Signs

Stiffening, hovering, freezing, and “whale eye” (showing the whites of the eyes) are subtle warnings. These are not bad behaviours—they're clear communication. Respect those warnings before the dog feels the need to escalate.

7. Let Go of the Control Narrative

You don’t need to prove you’re “in charge.” Your dog isn’t challenging you—they’re trying to protect something important. We all do the same.

If It’s Already Happening, There’s a Way Forward

If your dog is already showing signs of resource guarding, management is critical.

That means setting up your home and routines to prevent triggering situations:

• Feed your dog in a quiet, safe space where no one will disturb them.

• Avoid taking things from them—especially high-value items.

• Use baby gates or separate areas if needed to avoid conflict.

• Don’t allow children or visitors to approach when your dog has food or a special item!!!

These steps aren’t just about preventing bites—they’re about preventing your dog from feeling they have to guard in the first place.

And please—ask for professional help. Work with a qualified trainer or a behaviourist who uses reward-based, fear-free methods. You don’t have to figure this out alone, and the earlier you intervene with proper support, the better the outcome for everyone.

Resource guarding is normal. You do it. I do it. Our dogs do it too.

It’s not bad. It’s protective. It only becomes a problem when trust breaks down.

True prevention isn’t about taking things away. It’s about proving you won’t have to. And if trust has already been damaged, it can be rebuilt—with time, patience, management, and support.

Sandra Dlugabarskiene @ Lothian Dog Training