Have you ever noticed your dog getting all growly when someone approaches you? Maybe they push themselves between you and visitors. or even snap at people who dare to hug you? If this sounds familiar. your furry friend might be resource guarding you!
Yeah, you read that right – dogs don’t just guard their food bowls and favorite toys. Some pups consider their humans to be valuable resources worth protecting too. While it might feel flattering at first (“aww my dog loves me THAT much!”) this behavior can quickly become problematic.
As a dog lover who’s worked with many protective pups, I’ve seen firsthand how resource guarding humans can create serious issues if not addressed. Let’s dive into this fascinating behavior and discover how to handle it effectively.
What Is Resource Guarding in Dogs?
Resource guarding is a natural canine behavior rooted in survival instincts. Dogs descended from wolves who needed to protect valuable resources like food and territory to survive in the wild. According to the content from Animal Behavior College “Guarding valuable resources is a natural dog behavior, but it can cause issues within human homes.”
Even though our pampered pooches no longer need to compete for survival, those instincts remain coded in their DNA. Dogs commonly guard things like:
- Food bowls
- High-value toys
- Treats
- Their beds
- Space
- And yes, their favorite people!
Do Dogs Actually Resource Guard Humans?
Absolutely! According to both Animal Behavior College and Labrador Loving Souls, dogs can and do resource guard their humans. In fact, as the Animal Behavior College blog notes, “Some dogs can bond so deeply with a specific person that they will start to resource guard her from other dogs, people and even children.”
When a dog resource guards a person, they’re essentially viewing that human as a valuable possession they don’t want to share. This isn’t necessarily a sign of deep love or protection (though many owners interpret it that way) – it’s actually a sign of insecurity and possessiveness.
Signs Your Dog Is Resource Guarding You
How can you tell if your dog is resource guarding you rather than just being protective? Look for these behavioral patterns mentioned by Labrador Loving Souls:
- Barking and growling when others approach you
- Sudden lunging when someone gets close
- Aggression toward other dogs that try to come near you
- Becoming upset or angry when you play with other dogs
- Body language changes like stiffening, raised hackles, or a fixed stare
According to Animal Behavior College, protective dog behavior can manifest in several ways: “Dogs will either freeze, glare at the approaching person, snarl, show teeth, snap or even bite.”
Why Dogs Resource Guard Their Humans
Understanding why your dog is guarding you is crucial for addressing the behavior. Here are the main reasons:
1. Attention Seeking
Some dogs simply want your attention all to themselves. As Labrador Loving Souls explains, “Some dogs always prefer attention and cherish any form of attention from their owner. This attention whether positive or negative, all they want is attention.”
I’ve seen this with my own Lab who used to bark whenever I talked to other people. He wasn’t scared – he just wanted me to focus on him instead!
2. Fear and Anxiety
Dogs that feel insecure or anxious may guard their owners out of fear. According to Labrador Loving Souls, “When a person walks towards the dog, it feels uncomfortable and mostly fearful which makes the dog show signs such as growling and barking.”
This is especially common in rescue dogs or those who haven’t been properly socialized.
3. Space Issues
Some dogs are particular about their space and may view the area next to their owner as “their spot.” As Labrador Loving Souls notes, “Some dogs have serious space issues and they think that the place beside their owner is completely his place.”
4. Resource Value
According to Animal Behavior College, humans are valuable resources to dogs because we “put food in dog bowls, provide treats and toys, keep them safe, and can open doors.” It’s no wonder some dogs want to keep us all to themselves!
The Dangers of Protective Dog Behavior
While it might seem cute that your dog is “protecting” you, this behavior can lead to serious problems if left unchecked.
Animal Behavior College warns that “protective dog behavior is dangerous that will get worse, if not addressed quickly.” The blog also notes that this is “a growing problem in the US. According to a Modern Sciences study in 2025, over 99% of dogs show some form of behavior problems, such as aggression, separation anxiety, and fear-based issues.”
If your dog’s resource guarding escalates, it could potentially result in:
- Biting visitors or family members
- Creating tension in your home
- Limiting your social interactions
- Causing others to fear or dislike your dog
How to Stop Your Dog from Resource Guarding You
Now for the good news – this behavior can be modified with the right approach! Here are effective strategies compiled from both sources:
1. The “Make It Rain Cheese” Method
Animal Behavior College recommends this approach for changing your dog’s perspective:
- Find high-value treats your dog loves (cheese, hot dogs, chicken)
- Cut them into tiny pieces
- Sit in the location where guarding usually occurs
- Have a friend slowly enter the room
- Ask your friend to toss treats toward your dog as they approach
- Have your friend leave after a few seconds
This teaches your dog that people approaching equals good things happening!
2. Ignore Attention-Seeking Behavior
If your dog guards you to get attention, Labrador Loving Souls suggests: “You have to stop giving attention to your dog when it starts that kind of behaviour. If your dog is barking when someone approaches you, Simply you can stand up, leave your dog and move away from that place.”
By not rewarding the unwanted behavior with attention, your dog will learn it doesn’t work.
3. Counterconditioning for Fearful Dogs
For dogs guarding out of fear, Labrador Loving Souls recommends counterconditioning: “If the dog is given a tasty treat whenever an unknown person approaches him, the dog associates a good treat with an unknown person coming nearby.”
Over time, this changes your dog’s emotional response from fear to positive anticipation.
4. Important Safety Tips
Both sources emphasize some crucial guidelines:
- Never punish growling – it’s a warning sign, and punishing it might lead to biting without warning
- Don’t use physical punishment – it will make resource guarding worse
- Keep sessions short – Animal Behavior College recommends training sessions of just 2-3 minutes
- Seek professional help if your dog has already bitten someone or shows severe guarding behaviors
When to Get Professional Help
Some resource guarding cases require expert assistance. According to Animal Behavior College, “If a dog lunges, bites, muzzle punches (hits person with muzzle) and/or snaps at someone, then it’s time to bring in a professional.”
They specifically recommend working with “a professional dog trainer who only uses positive reinforcement.” A trained professional can assess your specific situation and create a customized plan for your dog.
Final Thoughts
Resource guarding humans is a common but fixable behavior issue. With patience, consistency, and the right approach, you can help your dog learn that sharing you with others is actually a positive experience!
Remember that your dog isn’t being “protective” out of deep love – they’re expressing insecurity or possessiveness that needs to be addressed. By helping them overcome this behavior, you’re actually strengthening your bond and creating a happier, more relaxed dog.
Have you experienced resource guarding with your dog? What strategies worked for you? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!
Why Dogs Resource Guard Owners
Guarding valuable resources is a natural dog behavior, but it can cause issues within human homes. Dogs will guard beds, food bowls, high value toys, treats, space and people. Every dog has a different personality, but most will resource guard whatever they find valuable to a degree. Humans are certainly valuable because they put food in dog bowls, provide treats and toys, keep them safe, and can open doors.
Some dogs can bond so deeply with a specific person that they will start to resource guard her from other dogs, people and even children. Sometimes, resource guarding goes undetected until another person or dog enters the home, and then the chaos ensues. Resource guarding should certainly be addressed as soon as possible, as it can result in biting behavior. Plus, no one wants to live with a bully.
Dangers of Protective Dog Behavior
This is a difficult question to answer because human feelings are being used to describe a dog’s reaction. Many pet owners feel their dogs are protecting them from threats. It’s a comforting feeling for humans, but dogs feel frustrated. When dogs growl at people approaching, while sitting in their pet owner’s lap, this is called resource guarding. Yes, your growling dog is protecting his resource, which is you, but protective dog behavior is dangerous that will get worse, if not addressed quickly.
In fact, this is a growing problem in the US. According to a Modern Sciences study in 2025, over 99% of dogs show some form of behavior problems, such as aggression, separation anxiety, and fear-based issues.
When Your Dog Resource Guards YOU
FAQ
Are dogs resource guarding humans?
Dogs exhibit the behaviour of resource guarding humans. You can observe a dog resource guarding a favourite human being. I mean his favourite human being. Actually, in present times this is unwanted behaviour as it might turn into a serious behavioural problem that makes everyone hate your dog. Every dog may not behave in a similar way.
What is canine resource guarding?
Canine resource guarding includes behaviour such as growling, snapping and even biting in some cases. Your dog can exhibit this kind of behaviour when it is insecure about a valuable resource. It can be food, treats, toys, bed, furniture etc, whatever your dog thinks to be valuable.
How do you know if a dog is resource guarding?
Resource guarding doesn’t always involve obvious signs like barking, lunging or biting, in the earlier stages there are often other, more subtle clues that a dog is guarding something. These include behaviors like:
How do I help a resource guarded dog?
If you do not have another person who can help, you can also use something like a Treat and Train to assist. First, have the owner (the person who is being resource guarded) sit about 5 to 10 feet away from the dog who is receiving training.
Is it normal for a dog to be a guardian?
Therefore guarding its possessions is its survival instinct and it is not abnormal to find this behaviour in your doggy friends. Canine resource guarding includes behaviour such as growling, snapping and even biting in some cases. Your dog can exhibit this kind of behaviour when it is insecure about a valuable resource.
Are Cocker Spaniels resource guarding?
I’ve noticed that cocker spaniels do a lot of resource guarding, and of course they are notorious for their temperamental nature. Really though, it’s not just one breed of dog, most breeds display this behavior to an extent.
Is a dog resource guarding humans?
Resource guarding of people, also called person guarding or possessive aggression, is when a dog becomes aggressive to discourage others from getting too close to their favorite human. It’s a strong, natural attachment where the dog sees you as the most valuable resource and may growl, snap, or bite to “protect” you from perceived threats.
How do I stop dog resources guarding me?
Does resource guarding include people?
How do I know my dog is guarding me?
Signs a dog is guarding you include standing between you and a perceived threat, growling or barking at strangers, displaying stiff or tense body language like raised hackles or a stiff tail, following you constantly, or ignoring commands when they feel you are in danger. Other signs are focused, alert body language with intense eye contact with a perceived threat, overreacting to new people or situations, or even lunging, snapping, or biting in extreme cases.