Resource Guarding: Toys

Resource guarding toys is a common behaviour in dogs but not as usual as resource guarding food, since food is a vital resource and toys aren't. However, for some dogs, toys are a crucial part of the fun and calming activities that they partake in during the day. Chewing and gnawing on a toy helps a dog to relieve stress and tension, and for a lot of dogs having a chew toy is a great joy for them.

When a dog feels as though their resources might be taken away or unpredictability received they will likely protect what they do have. To resolve this, the dog needs to learn that humans and other dogs aren't going to take their toys or food. Following are a few tips on how to get the best results out of the training process, which can be implemented immediately with any dog and needs to be with any resource-guarding dog. Detailed after is the training steps that will help a dog to learn their toys don't need to be protected from others.

Firstly, regardless of whether your dog guards their toys or food from other dogs or from people, never allow a toy or food be taken from them. This will only reinforce their urge to protect what is theirs.

Secondly, take all of your dogs toys and place them in a basket or box out of reach of the dog. If you want your dog to play with a toy either alone or with you then fetch a toy for them, when they are finished you can put the toy away. Doing this will seem harsh but in order for them to really enjoy their toys and playing with their owner they must learn that toys are not theirs to possess, they are to be shared and associated with fun.

Thirdly, dogs are a huge fan of a routine. So try and incorporate twenty to thirty minute periods during the day (once or twice a day depending on your dogs energy and stress levels) where they are given a toy to play with or you personally play with a toy with your dog. They will learn that their playtime will occur everyday and when it will be playtime, at first they may not realise this is their new playtime and therefore may not engage with you as much as you expect. However, if their toys are not lying around to play with then your dog will learn very quickly that fun time is approaching and they will be ready!

The training process:

1. When training a dog not to guard their toys it's best to start with a toy that you dog likes but is not their favourite. This is something they won't feel overwhelmed to protect but will teach your dog the appropriate commands for later.

2. Make sure you always remove all other toys from your dogs reach and make this a new practice. Take out a toy and play with your dog whenever you would like, but always put the toy away when you are finished playing. This teaches your dog that fun with toys always involves a human and that toys are not theirs to protect but to enjoy with their human companions.

3. Begin the training by allowing your dog to have a toy in their mouth while you sit nearby (far enough that you are not provoking a reaction but close enough that they know you are there) and ignore them while they play with their toy but try to pay attention to what they are doing. Make sure to give them no attention at all until you see them drop the toy.

4. Once they do, say the word 'leave' or 'drop' (or whatever command you like) and then calmly give them a treat (calmly, so that your dog doesnt see your hand coming at them and immediately grab their toy).

5. Start by doing this once and then take the toy and put it away, if possible. If not, allow the toy to be taken and repeat steps 3 and 4 as many times as you need until you have an opportunity to pick up the toy and put it away without a reaction from your dog.

6. Gradually build up the number of times you wait for your dog to drop the toy and then reward them and then start over. This slow build-up will prevent your dog from becoming overwhelmed and reverting to guarding the toy.

7. Keep repeating the process of waiting for the toy to be dropped and then rewarding them as much as is necessary for your dog to learn that 'leave' means dropping their toy and getting a treat or a bit of fuss from their human.

8. Continue this process for a few weeks and then add in the occasional 'drop' command when your dog is holding their toy and if they respond by dropping the toy, reward them. If not, keep on with the training process but try to check in on your mood during their training. Try to remain calm and confident, as if what's going on is totally normal. Your dog will know if you are nervous and will respond by reverting to their guarding behaviour.

Resource Guarding: Puppies

If you have a puppy that is learning how to play with their toys confidently around you, a similar process can be applied.

With your new puppy, you want to teach them the same principle of their toys won't be taken away but the strategy is slightly different since they likely won't be suspecting you of taking away a toy in the first place.

So when you get your new puppy they will have plenty of toys they will interact with, they may bring a toy to you and drop it or hold it while looking at you, or they may wander off and play alone. When they are learning what their toys are and how to play with them, as a puppy owner, you want to reward them with a treat or by saying good boy/ girl, any time they are playing calmly or whenever they drop their toy. If they are being too boisterous for you or are not leaving their toy at all, then gently hold the toy in your hand without grabbing and pulling and repeat your command (leave or drop it) in a clear and serious voice until they do. Once they drop the toy, reward them and give them their toy back. This is an easy way to teach your puppy to drop something that is in their mouth without teaching them that things will be taken away from them.

Written by Chloe Forster

Published on 10th April 2023

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