Rain Jordan, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, Fearful Dogs Expert <\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em>www.ExpertCanine.com<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/a> | <\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em>www.FearfulDogsProject.org<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The term \u201caggression\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> sometimes inspires fear and misunderstanding in humans.<\/p>\n While it is understandable to want to avoid being bitten, it’s also important to understand variations of aggressive behavior, why they occur, and how to avoid their development.<\/p>\n Prevention is everything.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We can increase our chances of preventing behavior problems by avoiding situations that the animal finds threatening or discomforting.<\/p>\n If you’ve already missed the prevention window, it’s not too late to take steps towards treatment that helps both you and your Shiba feel better and be safer.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n What’s treated as a \u201cresource\u201d can vary from animal to animal.<\/span><\/p>\n Every animal is an individual.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n And, while animal professionals from different fields may use different terms and definitions from their counterparts when discussing behavior issues, rather than focus on whose definition is most \u2018right,\u2019<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> it’s helpful to remember that it’s the behavior, not semantic constructs, that we are seeking to avoid, analyze, or modify.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, whether it is a fear-based behavior (self-defense response to a threat)<\/strong><\/strong> or a challenge-behavior (aggression aimed toward eliminating competition),<\/strong><\/strong> it’s not the term or definition but the current cause of, and the best solution to, the behavior we seek to avoid or change that are most important. <\/span><\/p>\n Food is only one of many possible resources that a dog might guard. <\/span><\/p>\n Some dogs will guard their own toys. <\/span><\/p>\n Some will guard their beds, or a piece of your household furniture that the dog also uses. <\/span><\/p>\n Food, toys, and resting places are among the most commonly guarded items,<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> but depending on the individual\u2019s learning history, health, and other factors including context, a dog may develop resource guarding behavior of more baffling things, such as an empty bowl previously used for food or water. <\/span><\/p>\n Seeing their humans and\/or other animals in the home as resources\u2014whether of attention, warmth, treats, play, etc.\u2014some dogs may resource guard the owner or another pet. <\/span><\/p>\n We might see a dog whose resource guarding extends to the treat bag a trainer is wearing. <\/span><\/p>\n Occasionally an individual dog\u2019s resource guarding might include things like his own vomit.<\/span><\/p>\n Whatever the resource, the principle is the same: The dog\u2019s behavior functions to keep control of his valuables.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n You’ll be happy to know that being a Shiba Inu is not the cause of resource guarding.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Aggressive behavior, including guarding, is almost always a response to the environment, and is often related to the individual\u2019s learning history, but is not mainly a result of breed.<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n An illness, such as a brain tumor, or pain condition, such as an injury, infection, infestation, or even matted fur, might underlie a change in behavior too. <\/span><\/p>\n Dogs who are sick or in pain often will behave differently, so if your dog suddenly begins showing aggressive behavior that seems without reason, get a thorough veterinary exam to rule out medical causes.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n In a general sense, resource guarding is normal for dogs\u2014as well as for humans and other animals! <\/span><\/p>\n If you think someone approaching is trying to take a valuable resource from you, you’ll take action to maintain that resource.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n When you are having dinner in a restaurant and an impatient server wants to take your plate before you\u2019re finished eating, you might put your hand out, or over your plate, to signal that you don\u2019t want it removed.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n If the server grabs at it anyway, you might escalate by objecting vocally.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n If the server ignores your communication and takes the plate anyway, the next time you eat there, you’ll be on the lookout for that server and ready to do what you must to keep control of your meal.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n If the pattern were to repeat, you might eventually get frustrated enough to take more drastic action,<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> especially if this is your favorite restaurant, or the only one in town.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When we try to take a dog\u2019s resource, say a bone he is chewing, and he hovers over it to keep us away, we are like that server.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n The big difference<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> is that we can<\/span> avoid the conflict by choosing to go elsewhere. <\/span><\/p>\n Our dogs do not<\/span> enjoy such freedom of choice. <\/span><\/p>\n Conflicts between dogs and humans are often the result of the differences in control each has.<\/p>\n We, as pet owners, can do pretty much whatever we want, and our pets must tolerate us.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n No matter how large or luxurious our homes, our dogs are essentially captives in them; pet dogs cannot unlock the door, walk out, and relocate if they find our behavior intolerable.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Instead, they are forced to try to make the situation tolerable.<\/p>\n If we don\u2019t respect their behavior as expressions of their limited options, conflict\u2014and behavior\u2014can worsen.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n Sometimes, bad advice taken can lead to resource guarding.<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For example, there are still people\u2014trainers and non-trainers\u2014who tell dog owners to take their dog\u2019s food bowl away while the dog is eating.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This kind of action doesn’t teach your dog that his food is safe, nor that you are the \u2018boss\u2019;<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> it teaches your dog that you’re a potential thief of his food, a challenger who cannot be trusted.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n If you have other pets, and your mealtime set up is such that they can and do access your dog\u2019s food bowl, your dog learns that other animals are also food thieves to be guarded against. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, the first rule of avoiding resource guarding is this: Avoid situations that might result in your dog\u2019s meals or other valuables being stolen.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Some additional rules to help avoid resource guarding are also versions of methods to modify resource guarding, and they can be applied regardless of what is being guarded. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For example, by pairing something really great\u2014even better than the meal<\/strong><\/strong><\/em>\u2014with the presence of others, classical conditioning \/ counterconditioning can teach your dog that the presence of others nearby at mealtime is a predictor of even better things.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When someone walks by your dog’s valued sofa, if the very next thing that happens is s\/he gets a bite of steak, walkers-by can become good news — predictors of great things — for your dog. So long as that turns out to be true.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n There are important rules such as proper order of operation and safety measures for classical conditioning and behavior modification in general, so do not try it without guidance from a certified, anti-aversives behavior consultant who has expertise in aggression. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Another rule is to teach your dog to trade for an upgrade; he gives you the item, you give him a better item.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Don’t just take the item, though.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> If you start by taking the item away, once again you are his challenger. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Until you’ve trained other behaviors, you might toss a high value food item a safe distance away from the guarded item so that he leaves the guarded item behind–because he wants to leave it behind in order to get the better one. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Then you can take it — temporarily. <\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It’s important your dog trusts that when he lets you remove a resource, it is not gone for good\u2014 you will give it back.<\/strong><\/strong><\/em> In the beginning stage, ![\"shiba](\"https:\/\/myfirstshiba.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/AdobeStock_115842322_reduced_white_background-copy.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Resource Guarding?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nWhat Causes Resource Guarding?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nHow To Avoid Resource Guarding<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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