Resource Guarding in Dogs - Understanding Boundaries and Zones
Dogs' invisible zones and possessions
They are invisible to us but extremely noticeable to our dogs. It's about mine, about yours and no one's. About dogs' zones.
Food sharing and zoning in wolves
When wolves bring down prey, they do it together. But when it's time to eat, they each grab a piece and spread out. The bone belonging to a wolf lies within his zone, magically formed when he holds the piece of meat between his front paws. Everything within his zone is his own, and unless one has a death wish, they stay away. However, if the same wolf rises and leaves the zone to go back to the buffet table and fetch a better piece, the remains become nobody's. If another individual saunters over, takes the bone, and lies down a distance away, no fur will fly because of it. And like magic, a new zone has been established.
Wolves and dogs' social rules
This approach is deeply ingrained in our dogs. It's about etiquette and manners, consideration and respect for others' belongings. It's also about self-preservation. No one want to end up in a fight. Wolves are strict about their code, and stealing is rarely appreciated, although it can be tolerated with puppies and when there's an abundance of food. That's why they prefer to bring down several animals or larger prey.
Culture clash between dogs and humans
Among us humans, we have name tags in a way. Little brother's new remote-controlled car is his, that's understood. And regardless of where it's placed and where little brother is, we ask before borrowing it. So, we can leave things lying around, and the well-behaved ones keep their fingers in check. This significant difference is a "clash of cultures" between dogs and humans. Dogs rarely snatch things from our hands, but if we've left a steak on the kitchen counter, it's okay for them to help themselves, according to their code. They're not doing anything inappropriate or wrong when they take it. They're polite enough to wait until we're gone. Of course, dogs can learn our customs, but it's equally important that we understand theirs.
Understanding the dog's perspective on possessions
Pointing at your expensive sneakers and declaring, "Those are mine no matter where they are," doesn't work. And if we thereafter point at a tennis ball and say, "That's yours," we might feel educational, but for dogs, we're babbling and pointing at things. However, if you sit on the floor, shoes in your arms, protecting them (by tucking them under you and using your body to block the dog's attempts without aggression, growling, or violence), then the dog will stop snatching the shoes. Because that approach, that communication, is logical for dogs. Now, we can't go around carrying everything we own that our dogs aren't allowed to take. There are drawers for that. And, of course, there are other solutions to our cultural clashes. But this article is not about solutions. It's about understanding. Because before we try to change a dogs' behaviour, we need to understand their customs. We need to respect our dogs' cultural heritage. Then we can move on to training them. Check out the training Leave it, here in Petli. A taught cue is a good start when wanting steaks and sneakers to yourself. For a deeper understanding of how to prevent thievery, read more about Dogs that steal things - causes and solutions.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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