Resource Guarding in Gundogs

Resource guarding is one of those things that tends to catch people by surprise… especially in working gundogs, and even more so with Cockers and Springers. These busy, clever dogs are often incredibly motivated by food and objects. That combination makes them brilliant dogs to train – but it can also mean they’re more likely to guard things they see as valuable.

The thing is, resource guarding doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. More often than not, it starts because of how we handle our pups in the early days.

How It Often Begins

A lot of advice that is still floating around is based on “dominance theory”… the old idea that you have to prove you’re the boss. People are told to:

• Take their pup’s food bowl away halfway through a meal
• Snatch toys or chews out of their mouth without offering an exchange
• Take shoes or socks from them suddenly, to stop them “getting away with it”
• Even get into their bed or crate to “prove it’s not theirs” (yes, that’s really a thing… and it’s as ridiculous as it sounds)

But what does that teach the dog?
It teaches them that humans approaching their stuff = things being taken away.

They quickly learn that if they want to keep hold of something, they need to protect it. Growling, snapping or running off with the item is their way of saying “please don’t take this from me.”

With gundogs – especially Cockers, who are often very high-energy and driven – this behaviour can set in fast. What started as a mild freeze or stiffening over a food bowl can quickly escalate to a full-on snap if the pattern keeps repeating.

You can check out the Ladder of Aggression to see the early communication signals dogs show before things get to that point.

Trust Over Conflict

Instead of trying to “be the boss”, the goal should be to build trust. Your dog needs to believe that when you approach, good things happen – not that their precious resource disappears.

That means:

• Never punish a growl – it’s communication. Listen to it.
• Don’t take food or chews away mid-eating unless you’ve trained towards it carefully. And if you do, trade for a bit of kibble or something else like a toy.
• Teach them that you bring better things, not that you steal.

Over time, your dog learns that your presence near their food, toys, or found “treasures” is actually a positive sign.

Teaching Useful Cues: Drop & Leave It

Two of the most valuable tools for managing guarding (and gundog mischief in general) are a solid Drop and a reliable Leave It.

• Drop: Start with a boring toy in their mouth, then present something they love (like chicken). Say “Drop”, wait for them to release, reward, and give the toy back. Over repetitions, they learn dropping = reward + they don’t always lose their prize forever.

• Leave It: Teach them that ignoring something earns something better. Begin with food in a closed hand, mark/reward when they stop pestering, and gradually build up to leaving items on the floor.

Both cues are about choice, not force. They give your dog control and confidence, rather than feeling like they need to guard.

Final Thought

Gundogs are fantastic companions with bags of drive and personality. But that very intensity makes it all the more important to build trust early on. Avoid those old dominance tactics… they only plant the seed of guarding. Instead, teach your dog that your presence brings safety, not loss.

Trust, communication and fair training will get you a dog who’s happy to share – and that’s worth far more than proving you’re “the boss.”