Resource Guarding Training in Knoxville, TN

Dog working with a trainer in a controlled session

If your dog freezes, growls or snaps when you walk past the food bowl, reach for a toy or approach the couch, you are dealing with resource guarding. It is common, it can be dangerous around children, and it usually gets worse without help. K9 Services Unlimited offers resource guarding training in Knoxville, TN through our behavior modification program.

Signs of resource guarding

  • Stiffening, freezing or hunching over food or a toy
  • Growling, lip curling, snapping or biting when approached
  • Eating faster, carrying items away or hiding them
  • Guarding a person, bed, couch or space
  • Reacting to other pets or children near the item

What not to do

  • Do not punish the growl. It is the dog's warning, and removing it makes bites more likely.
  • Do not repeatedly take things away to "prove" you can. It often makes guarding worse.
  • Keep children away from the dog's food, bones and resting spots.

Pain or illness can also cause guarding or irritability, so a visit to your veterinarian is a good first step.

How we help

We begin by evaluating your dog and finding out what it guards and why. The behavior modification program builds structure and boundaries, teaches reliable commands such as "out" and "leave it," and changes how your dog feels about people approaching its things, using controlled, gradual exposure. You learn how to manage the dog safely and how to continue the work at home. For dogs with more severe aggression, see aggressive dog training.

Programs for guarding dogs can be delivered through board and train, where your dog stays with us for 4 or 6 weeks. Request a free quote and tell us what your dog does.

Frequently asked questions

What is resource guarding?

It is when a dog uses growling, stiffening, snapping or biting to keep something it values, such as food, toys, a bed or a person.

Should I punish my dog for growling over food?

No. A growl is a warning. Punishing it can teach a dog to skip the warning and go straight to biting. Get help instead.

Can resource guarding be fixed?

Many dogs improve significantly with structure and controlled training, though some tendencies can remain, so management matters too. We will tell you what we think is realistic after meeting your dog.

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Talk to us about your dog

K9 Services Unlimited trains dogs and their owners in Knoxville, Tennessee and the surrounding area. Request a free quote and tell us about your dog, or see the areas we serve. We are available every day from 7 AM to 7 PM.