Resource Guarding Dog Training in Chicago

A man kneeling and reaching out to a sad, steaming brown puppy sitting with a yellow ball in front of it.

What is resource guarding?

Resource guarding is when a dog protects something they see as valuable—like food, toys, space, or even people. It can look like stiffening, growling, snarling, or snapping if someone or another pet gets too close.

While it can feel personal, it’s not about your dog being “bad.” Even more importantly, dog resource guarding from humans is NOT dominance-based behavior.

Guarding usually comes from fear, stress, or past experiences. With positive reinforcement and thoughtful training, dogs can learn that what they treasure is safe and that sharing can feel okay.

Food, crumbs, bowls 🍦

Toys, chews, bones 🦴

Spaces (bed, crates, couches, doorways, rooms) 🛋️

People 🤦‍♀️

Random objects (Socks, tissues or found treasures) 🧦

Why dogs resource guard

Some dogs guard food, toys, or spaces because they feel nervous or unsafe. Training helps them relax and trust instead of reacting.

Fear or Anxiety

Scarcity Mindset

If a dog believes resources are limited, they may growl or snap to hold onto them. We teach that food, toys, and attention won’t run out.

Illustration of a woman talking to a dog.
Line drawing of a megaphone with lightning bolts indicating sound or noise.
Outline drawing of two dogs, one large and one small, facing each other, with the smaller dog barking.
Cartoon of a black and brown dog wearing a collar, looking at a bowl of dog food.

Learned Behavior

Low confidence

Dogs often repeat what “works.” If guarding kept people away before, they may keep doing it until we replace it with better coping skills.

Insecure pups sometimes guard to feel more in control. Confidence-building training shows them they don’t need to protect everything.

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Dog paw print on the ground in front of a picket fence.

Some dogs are naturally more prone to guarding due to breed tendencies or early experiences. Careful training helps manage these instincts.

Genetic Predisposition

Stress

Big life changes, chaotic homes, or competition with other pets can increase guarding. We focus on lowering stress so sharing feels safe again.

Every dog shows guarding in their own way, but here are the most common warning signs to look for:

Signs to watch for

  • Hovering or blocking — Standing over a toy, bone, or food bowl and positioning their body to keep others away.

  • Hard stares or tense posture — Freezing in place, locking eyes, or stiffening their body when you or another pet approach.

  • Whale eye — Showing the whites of their eyes while keeping their head down near the resource.

  • Growling, snarling, or lip-lifting — Clear vocal or facial warnings that they want you to back off.

  • Snapping or biting — Guarding can escalate if earlier signs are ignored.

  • Fast or frantic eating — Racing through meals as if they expect the food will be taken away.

  • Carrying items away to hide — Sneaking off with toys, socks, or chews to keep them out of reach.

  • Pawing or covering — Physically trying to shield the item from you or another pet.

  • Guarding people or spaces — Blocking the couch, bed, or even you, treating them as a resource to protect.

  • Tense tail and ears — Tail stiff, ears pinned back or forward in hyper-alert mode.

How we help

🛡️

Safety & Management

Prevent tense moments with safe feeding setups and reduced triggers.

🔄

Trade-Ups
& Drop It

Teach that letting go gets something better, building trust instead of fear.

🌱

New Associations & Bond Building

Slowly create positive associations with people near valued items.

💪

Confidence
Building

Show insecure dogs that they don’t need to protect everything to feel safe

🩺

Collaboration
with Vet

For complex cases, we work with your veterinarian or vet behaviorist to give your pup the best care.

⏰

Consistency
& Predictability

We’ll hep you develop a daily schedule for your pup to create predictability in their day.

Our certified trainers will help uncover why your dog is reacting and give you the tools to help change how they feel about their triggers

Training Options


Private Lessons

$135 / 1 session
$625 / 5 pack

Personalized 1-on-1 training in your home, virtually or at Copilot in Avondale. Sessions last one hour.

A woman kneeling on a blue blanket next to a happy white dog with a green harness.


In-Home Day Training

$1,170 / 3 weeks
$1,440 / 4 weeks

Your pup will work with us for 1-hour sessions, 2x a week. We’ll regroup on your pup’s progress with a 1x1 together on the weekend.

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FAQs

  • Not always. Resource guarding is usually fear or stress, not aggression. It’s a natural instinct that can be redirected with training.

  • Not typically. Without guidance, guarding can worsen over time. Early training makes a huge difference.

  • Rarely. Most dogs need structured support to learn new coping strategies.

  • If your dog growls, snaps, or bites—or you feel unsafe—it’s time to reach out. The earlier we start, the easier it is to resolve.

  • Yes! We’re happy to collaborate with your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist for more complex cases.