Why is my dog suddenly protective over toys?
Skylar Bergnaum
2025-06-17 03:25:23
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Resource guarding is when a dog becomes defensive in order to keep you away from a particular item or resource that they treasure. The resource can be food, treats, toys, a place, like a bed or favourite chair, or occasionally even a person. Resource guarding is a natural behaviour for your dog, and an important survival strategy as a scavenger in the wild, but at home there are some things we can do to reassure our dogs and let them know they don’t need to become defensive. You can also use the same technique to prevent your dog guarding their toys or chews. When your dog is settled with their chew or toy, place a few treats down on the floor near to where they are lying and give them the opportunity to leave the resource to take them. By using positive methods your dog will continue to associate you being near their resources with positive things happening, like treats. Make sure all family members and everyone who visits know never to approach or interrupt your dog if they are eating or have a chew. As best as possible, hide or remove any items that your dog may steal and guard so that you do not have to confront your dog. If you do have to remove something from them, make sure it’s an exchange rather than just taking something away.
Kayden Wolff
2025-06-17 02:45:14
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Just like us, dogs can become worried if they feel that something they value might be taken away from them. This worry can sometimes lead to guarding behaviour, which is a dog’s way of trying to keep their precious item safe. The main reason for guarding is fear of losing valuable items. Taking things away from your dog as punishment or telling them off for guarding is likely to increase their anxiety about losing things. They may become even more worried and feel the need to protect those valuable things even more. Guarding behaviour can include standing over an item they value, with a very stiff and still posture, lowering their body posture if anyone approaches the item, running away with the item, hiding the item, eating their food or treat very quickly, or growling or showing aggressive behaviour to protect the item.
Jackson O'Kon
2025-06-17 02:44:56
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: 7
She doesn’t snap at people over it, but if our other dogs get too close to her, she’ll lose it on them. This is the only toy out of many, many toys she’s like this about. She even hides it under her bed sometimes so no other dog touches it. My theory is it may have been the only toy she received when she was with the abusive owners. Another theory is it’s the first toy we got her, but to be fair she went through 2 other houses before us where I know for a fact they were nice to her and gave her toys.
Jeromy Schowalter
2025-06-17 01:56:17
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Dogs are funny creatures. When they find something they love, they’ll love it until there’s nothing left to love. And they’ll protect and guard it completely, whether it’s a well-chewed toy, a bowl of food or a prime sleeping spot in front of the heater. Whatever it is, if it has value to the dog they’ll make sure no one else gets it. Resource guarding is a natural trait for survival in the wild. Insecurity is almost always at the root of the problem, and it comes naturally. If the dog has learned through experience that it can lose its precious resources if it doesn’t protect them, this behavior will continue.