Why we should avoid taking that item from your dog - Avoiding resource guarding
- Nov 23, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: May 11
By Hannah Burton
There is nothing scarier than your dog picking up a potentially dangerous item on a walk. Every instinct tells you to rush over and immediately grab it from them.
I have personally experienced the horror of a dog in my care picking up a dangerous item. I was completing a pet sitting job with a very curious dog who liked to pick up absolutely everything - leaves, tissues, latex gloves, sticks… you name it, he picked it up.
One day, we were out on a walk when he turned around to me proudly carrying a disposable razor in his mouth.
My panic was unbelievable. Here was this dog in my care carrying something that could potentially cause serious injury or an emergency trip to the vets.
Every bone in my body told me to grab the razor from his mouth and throw it straight in the nearest bin.
While that may have solved the immediate issue, however, it could also have created problems around item possession and resource guarding further down the line.
Resource guarding is when a dog feels the need to protect something they consider valuable — this may be food, toys, chews, stolen items, sleeping spaces, or even people. Many cases begin unintentionally through repeated conflict around possessions.
A Note on Resource Guarding:
Many guardians do not realise that repeatedly forcibly removing items from their dog can sometimes contribute to what is known as resource guarding. Resource guarding is when a dog feels the need to protect something they consider valuable — such as food, toys, chews, stolen items, sleeping spaces, or even people.
This matters because resource guarding rarely appears “out of nowhere”. In many cases, dogs learn through repeated experiences that people approaching them around valued items predicts loss, conflict, or discomfort. Over time, this can create anxiety around possessions and lead dogs to become tense, worried, or defensive when approached.
The good news is that with kind, proactive handling and positive reinforcement, many dogs can learn to feel much safer and more relaxed around people near their belongings.
To help avoid being put in these stressful situations, here are some of the most common questions we receive around dogs picking up and guarding items.
Why is my dog picking up items?
Dogs — especially puppies and adolescent dogs — explore the world largely through their mouths.
Most young dogs are extremely orally focused due to a mixture of:
Teething
Curiosity
Exploration
Natural scavenging behaviours
When your dog first begins exploring the outside world, everything is new and interesting. A dog’s strongest sense is smell, and taste is closely linked to this.
For example, you may notice your dog licking where another dog has urinated. As unpleasant as this seems to us, this behaviour helps dogs gather additional information about the unfamiliar dog.
In the same way, picking up objects helps dogs investigate the world around them. Unfortunately, dogs do not understand that a chicken bone, vape, medication packet, or disposable razor may be dangerous.
As guardians, our job is to help keep our dogs safe while still allowing them to explore their environment in appropriate ways.
Why shouldn’t I take things from my dog?
This is an excellent question — and one I’m very glad you asked.
As much as possible, we should avoid repeatedly forcibly removing items from our dog’s mouth. Instead, we want to:
Swap items
Redirect away from dangerous objects
Teach a positive “drop” cue
Reinforce voluntary release behaviours
Imagine for a moment that you are drinking your favourite drink. I walk over and take it from you. Or I throw it away. Or every single time you have it, I come over and interfere with it.
Eventually, you would probably begin to feel uncomfortable whenever I approached.
After enough repetitions, you might even become defensive about it.
For dogs, the emotional process is very similar.
If we are constantly pulling things from our dog’s mouth, they may begin to feel conflict or anxiety whenever a person approaches while they have something valuable.
Over time, this can contribute to resource guarding behaviours.
Dogs cannot verbally tell us they are uncomfortable, so instead we must pay attention to body language.
Subtle signs of discomfort may include:
Freezing or becoming tense
Turning their head away while watching you (“whale eye”)
Holding items more tightly
Lip lifting
Growling
Importantly, growling is communication — not “bad behaviour.” A growl is often a dog’s way of saying:
“I’m uncomfortable. Please give me space.”
Punishing or ignoring these warning signals can sometimes lead dogs to stop warning altogether.
“I Take Things From My Dog All The Time — They Don’t Mind!”
You may be right — your dog genuinely may not mind at the moment.
Often, guardians are removing relatively low-value items without issue.
However, problems can arise when:
The item becomes more valuable
The dog is stressed or overwhelmed
The dog feels unsafe about losing the object
The dog has learned people approaching predict loss
Ironically, repeatedly taking items can sometimes increase the value of those items.
Before, it was “just a tissue.”
Now it becomes:
“The exciting thing humans always rush over to take!”
Equally, some dogs may already be showing subtle signs of discomfort that are easy to miss or misunderstand.
Even if your dog appears tolerant, it is still advisable to minimise unnecessary conflict around possessions wherever possible.
How Can I Help My Dog Feel More Positive About People Near Their Items? And Prevent Resource Guarding?
If your dog seems uncomfortable when people approach them around food, toys, chews, or found objects, we can help change the emotional association.
Instead of your presence predicting loss, we want your presence to predict good things.
A simple starting exercise:
Approach at a distance your dog feels comfortable with
Toss high-value treats towards them
Walk away again
Now your approach predicts added value rather than conflict.
Over time, many dogs begin to feel much more relaxed when people move near them.
Always pay close attention to your dog’s body language and work at their pace.
It can also help to provide your dog with a safe, undisturbed area for enjoying valued items, such as:
A crate
Playpen
Bed space
Quiet corner
Dogs often relax more when they know they will not be disturbed.
What Should I Do Instead?
Rather than physically removing items whenever possible, focus on teaching skills that encourage cooperation.
Helpful alternatives include:
Trading for something better
Teaching a positive drop cue
Reinforcing voluntary release
Avoiding chasing games
Managing access to dangerous items
Keeping walks calm and predictable
Practising with low-value objects first
The goal is not simply getting the item back.The goal is helping your dog feel safe enough to willingly let it go.
But What About Fetch?
Generally, we do not recommend excessive repetitive fetch games.
While many dogs enjoy them, constant high-speed sprinting and abrupt stopping can place stress on joints and soft tissues. For some dogs, repetitive ball chasing can also increase adrenaline and arousal levels to the point where they struggle to settle afterwards.
If you do wish to play fetch:
Use two identical toys to swap between
Encourage voluntary dropping
Include breaks and calming activities
Avoid prolonged repetitive throwing sessions
Teaching a positive “drop” cue can help keep the game cooperative and enjoyable.
It’s An Emergency! How Do I Get The Item Off My Dog?
First, it is important to assess whether it is truly an emergency.
If your dog briefly picks up a harmless item and is unlikely to consume it, rushing over may accidentally create more value around that object.
However, if your dog has something genuinely dangerous or intends to swallow it, intervention may be necessary.
In these situations:
Stay as calm as possible
Avoid chasing
Avoid yelling
Use practiced swaps if possible
Make yourself more interesting than the item
One useful approach is Chirag Patel’s Counting Game, which encourages dogs to disengage from items voluntarily through positive reinforcement. See below for a video:
Practicing swaps regularly at home can also make emergency situations much easier to manage in real life.
One important thing to note: If we constantly trade every stolen item for something amazing, some very intelligent dogs may learn to pick items up deliberately in order to start the swapping game!
Why management of the environment is so important!
What can I do to encourage my dog willingly drop items?
Teaching a positive “drop” cue is one of the safest and most useful skills your dog can learn.
The goal is for your dog to happily release items because good things happen when they do — not because they are forced to.
One popular approach is based on Chirag Patel’s method:
Say your cue (“Drop”, “Release”, etc.)
Immediately scatter treats on the floor
Repeat until your dog associates the cue with good things happening
Soon, many dogs will begin turning towards you expectantly when they hear the cue.
Once this association is strong, you can begin practising with very low-value items.
Start easy:
Boring toys
Cardboard
Tissues
Low-value household objects
As your dog improves, gradually work towards more difficult items.
Always set your dog up to succeed.
A dog may not initially drop a chicken bone outside, but they may successfully practice with tissues that smell faintly of chicken at home first.
It is also important to practise in lots of different environments so the skill transfers into real life situations.
Important Note
If you have previously used words like:
“DROP!”
“DROP IT!”
“LEAVE IT!”
while forcibly taking items from your dog, those cues may already carry negative associations.
In this case, choosing a fresh cue word can sometimes help.
Final Thoughts
Dogs are not trying to be “stubborn,” “dominant,” or “bad” when they hold onto items.
Most often, they are simply trying to keep hold of something valuable or interesting.
By reducing conflict, teaching cooperative skills, and helping dogs feel safe around people approaching their possessions, we can greatly reduce the likelihood of resource guarding behaviours developing over time.
If your dog is growling, freezing, snapping, or showing significant discomfort around food, toys, chews, or stolen items, it is best to seek support from a qualified positive reinforcement behaviour professional.
If you are having specific issues with your dog around resources or possessions, or would like tailored one-to-one guidance, please contact Wanderdog for personalised support.
*Safety Disclaimer
It is important to remember that while many mild guarding behaviours can be improved with positive reinforcement and careful management, more significant resource guarding should always be taken seriously.
If your dog is:
Growling
Freezing
Snapping
Lunging
Biting
Becoming highly tense around food, toys, chews, or stolen items
Avoid confrontation or punishment and seek support from a qualified positive reinforcement behaviour professional. Punishment around guarding behaviours can increase fear, suppress warning signals, and in some cases increase the risk of escalation.
Safety should always come first — both for your dog and the people around them.
If you are having specific issues with your dog around resources or have an individual query, please contact Wanderdog for one to one help and tailored support.
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