Resource Guarding & Impulse Control

$149

This instinctive behavior cannot be ignored and must be addressed. Ignoring it will not make it disappear on its own. 

 

Possession or resource guarding is a common issue, particularly in puppies aged between 5 and 8 months, when they may go through fear periods. While most dogs can be easily trained to overcome this behavior, some may require more focused attention to improve their behavior.

 

When a dog has an object or food item that they are unwilling to give up, they may exhibit a range of behaviors. These can include positioning themselves between you and the object, attempting to cover the object with their head while staring at either it or you. If you approach, they may lower their head, stiffen their body, and emit a soft growl. This behavior serves as a clear warning to other dogs, signaling them to back away.

 

In more serious cases, when the dog is truly committed to guarding, they may escalate their warnings by growling louder, snapping, or even biting. While some dogs may bite only once, others may exhibit multiple bites. It's important to note that just because a dog has not bitten before in similar situations, it doesn't guarantee they won't do so in the future.

 

If you find yourself threatened by a possessive dog, it's crucial to exercise caution and avoid punishment or intimidating responses. Reacting in an intimidating manner can worsen the situation and potentially escalate the dog's aggression.

 

Fortunately, with the right training and techniques, most dogs can learn to overcome possessive behaviors and develop a healthier relationship with their belongings. In our upcoming online class, we will dive deeper into the causes of food and toy aggression, provide step-by-step training methods, and offer expert guidance on managing and preventing this issue.

 

In this program, we focus on changing your dog’s conditioned emotional responses, helping her to go from feelings of fear and aggression to comfort, confidence, and playfulness. Just like a latent ember, resource guarding can seemingly pop up out of nowhere.

 

Every action is a learning opportunity for your dog. Through positive and negative associations, we will guide your dog towards creating positive connections with sharing, without the need to hoard or guard. Initially, we will use bribes to create these positive associations. 

 

Trust-building is a crucial aspect of our program. Through counterconditioning, we will begin to increase your dog's confidence and decrease fear, for new conditioned emotional response to the items she feels a need to guard. 

 

To help track progress and ensure success, we encourage journaling as a critical component of our program. A journal is included with this program. By documenting your dog's behavior and emotional responses, we can tailor our approach and ensure the best possible outcome. 

 

Let’s work together to transform your dog's behavior and create a harmonious and trusting bond between you and your furry friend. Take the first step towards a happier and more balanced relationship by starting right now!