Any experience of extreme resource guarding in an adult rescue dog?

[Barrenfieldoffucks]

Has anyone had experience with resource guarding in an adult rescue dog? We've just adopted a 2 year old retriever/Weimaraner mix, wonderful dog, really responsive to training and settling in well.

Last week we gave him a bone for the first time and it triggered some serious guarding behaviou, growling, a bite that broke skin, and a second lunge. We've since had two further snapping incidents with a toy, no damage but contact made both times. All incidents have been triggered by someone reaching towards something he had.

Today he stole a pack of butter while we were out, instructed son (14) to leave it as he snapped at him when he tried offering a distraction/treat. When I walked past the abandoned packet to get to the washing line he woke up and followed me, when I stopped to look at it he started growling and leapt up, bit my hand etc. When I walked back past to go back indoors he did the same again but to the other hand, but kind of followed me. I went in the side door of the house to avoid him, by the time I came in he was back indoors, calm as anything, looking very meek as if he knew he'd done wrong.

We've spoken to the charity we adopted him from and a dog behaviourist, both reassuring but saying they'll help come up with a plan, and in the meantime don't approach him on his bed (he's ok with this now) or when he has something he values, use swap technique rather than taking things directly.

Wondering if anyone has been through similar and how it resolved? Particularly interested in whether the guarding stayed limited to specific high-value triggers or whether it needed significant behavioural work to manage long term. He's otherwise a genuinely lovely, affectionate dog and we want to get this right for him and for us...but he is big and strong so we need to do it properly. In the home he was rescued from he lived with a very bossy older dog, perhaps he was used to having to defend things from her 🤨

I really wouldn’t have a dog like this around a child. He’s only been in your home a week or two and has already bitten multiple times.

I would absolutely surrender him back to the rescue or a breed specific rescue, not because I think this is something that can't be fixed but because resource guarding as you have described should absolutely be managed (at first) by someone experienced who knows what they are doing - not someone (and I mean this as nicely as possible) who has had three incidents in a week and who doesn't understand the very basics such as not approaching a dog on their bed (why on earth are you still doing this - the fact you say 'he allows this now' is just setting alarm bells ringing in my mind. Stop doing it. It doesn't matter if you think the dog allows it. Stop it.).

It takes three months, minimum, for a rescue to feel comfortable in a home. Usually much longer. So the behaviour you are seeing now, is likely the tip of a (very large) iceburg. His sweet side? Might stick around. My instincts are it'll get worse.

Ultimately, the more you push a dog who has resource guarding tendencies, the more their resource guarding worsens. Resource guarding is never cured. It is always, simply, 'managed.' So however long this dog has left of it's life...you'll be dealing with its resource guarding.

We see this a lot in Golden Retrievers that come to the rescue I help with. 9/10 times they never have another snap or biting incident. That's not because they're 'cured' or 'fixed' but because we place them in homes that understand how to work with dogs with these issues. That means no high value treats or toys, a 'safe space' where they know and the humans know that they will not be bothered, no children no other dogs etc. It's constant egg-shells in many ways, and it takes a particular type of dedicated owner to manage it effectively.

Please do not characterise your dog with phrases such as 'meak as if he knew he had done wrong.' Dogs do not think like that. Give him another opportunity and his behaviour will be the exact same, possible (and likely) worse. Why? Because resource guarding escalates and it is an ingrained behaviour - it is not something where a dog thinks 'oh I should not have done that, oops' and then never does it again.

Ultimately, for a big and large dog, no one should be trying to manage resource guarding except someone who has experience in that behavioural issue and (preferably) that breed.

The rescue saying they'll 'help come up with a plan' is not good enough. They should have known about this if they were in any way competent. So, either they are incompetent, or they knowingly withheld crucial information about the dogs behavioural problems OR (and even worse) you knew and still pushed the dogs boundaries. I assume it's not the third. But, neither of the first two scenarios are good and I wouldn't want their advice on a 'plan' after their negligence. So if you are going to keep this dog, find someone who isn't affiliated with that absolute disgrace of a rescue.

You need to read this very carefully

edited to say OP needs to read and follow this carefully. Good post

I agree with poster above. The rescue should not be rehoming dogs who are like this and if they had any inkling that this was an issue, they have been tremendously neglectful in rehoming this dog. He’s bitten/made contact numerous times in the short time he’s been in the home. They should be responding to this with absolute urgency and I would expect them to suggest removal from the home, not ‘a plan’.

I am an experienced dog owner and would not be comfortable with a dog like this in my home.

@TheHungryHungryLandsharks has nailed the detail here absolutely
I’m a trainer/behaviourist. You’ve had at least 4 episodes of resource guarding in a very short space of time. You have children in the house. Triggers are multiple.

There is zero chance I’d keep the dog in the family set up you have described I’m afraid

I foster dogs for a resuce. Mainly spaniels and collies. Many come to me with a resource guarding history but usually I do not see any resource guarding when they are with me. Not because they are cured but just because I avoid anything that will trigger them.

If you are not experienced I would give this dog back to rescue and look for a more suitable dog for your family.

Also to note that most resource guarders and dogs with separation anxiety will have underlying anxiety issues and need careful behavioural management for a long time.

It's funny, out of all the things he has wandered off with over the month he has been with us, it has been 3 things he has reacted like this over.

1, a chew bone thing
2, a baguette (I wondered if it resembled the bone)
3, a pack of butter today

Everything else he has taken, he is very un-fussed by.

And the toy incidents?
Remember, these are the items you have seen a DRAMATIC response with, not necessarily the only things. Just hunching over an item or freezing and tensing can also be signs……yet most people won’t even notice those

OP @TheHungryHungryLandsharks knows her stuff and has often gives brilliant insight and advice on here, particularly re goldens.

@Barrenfieldoffucks listen to @TheHungryHungryLandsharks and return the dog to the rescue.

I have a little 6kg rescue cookerpoo that resource guards toys, anything that resembles a ball and me. I understand this little sociopath and I taught my family how to interact with her. The point I am making is, resource guarding is a very complex issue and there isn't a quick fix or one size fits all approach.