Training Philosophy
What Is Resource Guarding and How Do We Treat This Behavior in Puppies?
Resource guarding is aggressive behavior that occurs when a dog has access to a high-value resource, such as a toy, food, person, or valued location, such as a bed. This behavior can be directed towards other pets or people in the home. Perhaps your dog has growled or snapped at you when you try to take their toy away or has gotten into a fight when another dog approaches their food bowl.
Puppy growling during healthy play is a perfectly normal puppy behavior, but if your puppy stiffens and growls when taking one of your puppy’s toys, that could be an early indicator of resource guarding. Puppy aggression over resources can be concerning because the behavior worsens with age, and as a puppy matures, low-level guarding can turn into severe aggression.
Fortunately, resource guarding behaviors can be treated through behavior modification training. We address resource guarding behaviors through a behavioral wellness approach that uses scientifically proven methods, including classical conditioning to build positive associations through pairing exercises and positive reinforcement to promote non-resource guarding behaviors through the use of rewards.
Benefits of Resource Guarding Dog Training
Our resource guarding training programs will teach your puppy to feel confident and secure around people and other pets. This is taught through behavior modification training that supports behavioral wellness, teaching positive associations and how to behave appropriately in situations that previously caused stress and aggressive behavior. This will help your puppy to have more positive interactions at home, leading to a happier household.
To better understand puppy resource guarding, we recommend checking out our puppy resource guarding blog, written by our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage. This blog discusses the early signs of resource guarding, ways to avoid it, and what to do if you notice this behavior.
Training Programs
In our Resource Guarding Puppy Behavior Modification Package, we offer private virtual sessions with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). Dr. Echterling-Savage is one of only a few Board Certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior, with only around 50 CAABs in the country. With decades of expertise, including published research on canine behavior, Dr. Echterling-Savage is a leading expert in her field, making her consultations an invaluable opportunity for those seeking long lasting change.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will connect with you virtually to evaluate your puppy’s behavior, developing a training program that addresses your puppy’s specific needs. After your initial meeting, Dr. Echterling-Savage will continue to offer guidance and troubleshoot resource guarding scenarios, ensuring continued progress in your puppy’s training. This program runs for four weeks for mild cases and six weeks for moderate or severe cases.
The resource guarding wellness retreat will focus on personalized goals that meet the unique needs of your puppy. This can include addressing reactive behaviors, such as lunging, growling, and snapping at people and other dogs, that are associated with:
Teaching obedience skills and manners that are relevant to treating resource guarding
Socialization training in the home and throughout the Tampa Bay area
Depending on the distance from Tampa Bay, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
To best treat resource-guarding behaviors in puppies, we will analyze the underlying causes of these behaviors. Factors that influence resource guarding behaviors include dog breed, early life experiences, lack of socialization opportunities, exposure to aversive training methods, including e-collars, and the behavior of other pets in the home.
Unfortunately, if left unaddressed, resource-guarding behaviors often get worse as a puppy gets older. Fortunately, behavior modification training has been shown to effectively address these behaviors. During training we use function-based interventions, including classical conditioning, where pairing exercises are used to teach positive associations, and positive reinforcement, which teaches desired behaviors through rewards such as treats and praise. These training methods can significantly reduce resource guarding in puppies and lead to a more harmonious household.
During the wellness retreat, your dog will live and train at the home of Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage.
The first step is to meet with Dr. Echterling-Savage for a virtual consultation, during which she will review your dog’s behavioral history and discuss your training goals. You will also need to complete our “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior”, which provides us with information on your dog’s behaviors. The consultation and assessment will allow Dr. Echterling-Savage to develop a personalized training program that addresses the unique needs of your dog.
Dr. Echterling-Savage or Sean Savage will personally transport your dog from your home to Tampa Bay. During the wellness retreat, your dog will be part of the family and be trained at their home and throughout the Tampa Bay area.
At the end of the four weeks of training, Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage will return your dog home. Where they themselves or, with the assistance of another trainer, will provide 4.5 hours of return and follow-up sessions. These lessons will ensure you can maintain their newly learned skills and ensure long-term success with their training.