Resource guarding is a dog training technique that Victoria Stilwell covers in her excellent book, Dog Training Secrets Revealed. Resource guarding occurs when a dog views any given situation as his place of refuge and will naturally try to seize control over the situation. Dogs that have a deep fear of uncertainty and unfamiliar situations are often victims of resource guarding. In this article, I want to share with you some of the dog training tricks that Victoria Stilwell covers in her book.
A dog’s ability to protect its territory is based on its innate instincts and structure. If your dog senses danger, then it will stand its ground. Dogs that are properly trained will not run around your legs or sniff the floor for anything but food. Instead of fighting back, stand tall and leave things alone. Here are two dog training tricks to teach your dog to leave things alone:
The Leash Tie-In. Stand in one spot facing in toward your dog. Take your dog’s leash and slowly move it toward you while teaching your dog to walk on a leash. As soon as your dog reaches the end of the leash, gently tug on its leash to show that it is your dog’s property and that you are in charge. Stop immediately if your dog tries to attack you or its territory.
The Down But Not Out Tie-In. You’ll need an A-frame or a four-poster screen to train your dog to lay down its back on command. Start by sitting or standing in one place and pulling on your dog’s leash. When your dog does, simply grab the dog’s back and move it into position to stop the dog from walking out.
The Over-the-Knee Chase. Your dog can be very stubborn. Sometimes, it will take a bit of patience, but eventually, your dog will understand what you’re asking for. To begin with, begin by laying a mat on the floor. Walk toward your dog with your hand in front of the dog’s nose and extend your palm down toward the ground.
Slowly walk up the dog’s back leg, extending your arm straight out. As soon as you feel the pressure building up on the dog’s back, turn to the left. This will teach the dog that you are bossy and you are not going to let him touch the ground before you release him. Do this several times and your dog will begin to realize that his behavior isn’t appreciated when you turn away from him.
The Headlock. This may sound easy but it isn’t. If you’ve ever watched a dog fight, then you know how challenging it can be to stop a dog from hissing at you or nipping at you. However, this trick is one of my favorites. You will need an open space with no obstacles in order to execute this trick successfully.
Take a corner and place your dog’s hindquarters face you. Once you have ascertained that the dog is going to stop barking, slowly turn to the dog’s back and give a sharp tug on her leash. You will hear her release her whine but don’t let her know that you did this until she calms down. Once she does, praise her and give her a treat so that she learns that her barking has consequences.
The Box. This is another dog command that is easy for the dog to understand and execute. Place your dog in a standing position facing you. Give the command to “box” and then place her feet in a box shape, making sure she is turned to face you.
As you are speaking to the dog, gently grab her ankles and turn her around to face you. Again, speak calmly to the dog, telling her that you are testing her and want to see how she reacts. When the dog complies, repeat the command and tell her again that you are testing her. Once she complies, give her a treat and praise her. When you have performed this several times, the dog will turn to you when you speak. As you dog begins to trust you, she will not want to attack you and will cooperate with you when you command her to stop her biting.
A Victoria Stilwell Resource Guarding class is the best solution to stop dog biting. Dogs should be taught that there is a clear and accepted boundaries that must be set so that they can fully understand that you are in charge. Dogs that know their limits are less likely to be an aggressive dog and are better behaved overall. Be sure to look into a dog training program that includes Stilwell and other dog training techniques.
