Resource Guarding

Resource guarding occurs when dogs exhibit behaviors like growling, lunging, or biting over food, toys, beds and even another dog or a person.

Resource guarding describes a wide range of undesirable behaviors that occur frequently with some dogs. 


This online dog  training course will help you learn how to approach resource guarding behavior with you dog and help you to address it.

Final Notes
Jeff Scarpino teaching a resource guarding dog training course.

Lesson 1

Resource Guarding

Session One

We work with a fantastic rescue organization out of Brooklyn NY called Badass Animal Rescue. They sent us this video of a dog named "Lee" and asked if we could help with his resource guarding. Soon Lee was transported to our facility and we started working with him!


First we are simply testing to see his response when we get close to his food while eating.

Prior to this Jeff had started treating Lee with hot dogs outside of hos crate.

* Notice also how Jeff waits for Lee to sit before he gets his food.


The next day, Jeff starts teaching Lee to associate a hand coming in with getting more hot dog pieces.


By day 4 Jeff started making noises with his hands while Lee is eating.

Lesson 2

Resource Guarding

Session Two

On Day 5 with Lee we added clicker training.


Clicker training works on a "mark and reward" system.


Every time Lee sits Jeff will click and immediately give him a treat. This way Lee starts to learn that he has the ability to get rewarded himself.


By day 6 we are moving the clicker training to the crate.

Lesson 3

Resource Guarding

Session Three

Day 9 we continue to teach Lee to break focus on his food.


*  It is ok that Lee didn't sit when Jeff gave him the command, he just did not get rewarded.

Lesson 4

Resource Guarding

Session Four

By Day 12 we are adding a command and increasing duration of him sitting in the kennel. 


We are happy to say that shortly after his stay with us Lee was adopted by a wonderful family here in Vermont!

Lesson 5

Resource Guarding

Final Notes

Not every dog will be as easy as Lee to work with, but for this resource guarding series Lee was perfect for us to show the process that wants to develop. 


Any behavior that you are working on takes time to modify. It is "behavior modification" not "behavior change".  If results are slow just make sure they are moving in the right direction.  If you have baby steps your are moving towards the right direction.


Move slow and work with your dog, take baby steps!

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