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Understanding Possessive Behaviour in Dogs: Why It Happens and How to Help

  • Jul 15
  • 4 min read

Updated: Aug 7

Dogs are loyal, loving, and intelligent companions—but like all animals, they have instincts that can sometimes lead to unwanted behaviours. One of the more challenging issues dog owners face is possessiveness behaviour.

Whether it’s guarding toys, food, bones, or even people, possessive behaviour—also known as resource guarding—can cause stress, frustration, and in some cases, even aggression. But don’t worry. This behaviour can be understood, managed, and in most cases, significantly improved with the right approach.

Let’s take a deeper look at what’s going on and how you can help your dog feel safer and more secure, without needing to fight over a tennis ball ever again.


🔍 What Is Possessive Behaviour in Dogs?

Possessive behaviour is when a dog guards a resource they consider valuable. That resource could be:

  • Food or treats

  • Toys

  • Chews or bones

  • Beds or resting areas

  • Spaces (like sofas or doorways)

  • People (especially their favourite person)

Dogs displaying possessive behaviour might:

  • Growl, freeze, or stiffen when someone approaches the item

  • Snatch the item and move away

  • Show the whites of their eyes ("whale eye")

  • Snap or bite if the person or another dog comes too close

It’s important to know this isn’t dominance or “bad behaviour”—your dog is reacting out of instinct and fear of losing something important.


🧠 Why Do Dogs Become Possessive?

Dogs aren’t born with possessiveness, but several factors can contribute to it developing:

1. Survival Instinct

In the wild, dogs (and their ancestors, wolves) had to guard their food and space to survive. That instinct is still in domestic dogs today, even if their food comes from a bowl and they have 20 toys.

2. Insecurity or Anxiety

Some dogs become possessive because they feel unsure or threatened. If they’ve ever had to compete for food (like in a multi-dog home, rescue shelter, or bad breeding environment), they may learn to guard what’s theirs.

3. Past Trauma

Dogs that have been starved, neglected, or punished for trying to eat or enjoy a toy may develop strong guarding behaviours. They may associate people approaching their resource with something negative.

4. Lack of Boundaries

Sometimes, without clear guidance, dogs begin to believe they must protect or control access to resources, even when no threat exists. This isn’t about being “alpha”—it’s usually a sign they’re unsure who’s responsible for safety and decisions.


🧭 How to Tell if Your Dog Is Showing Possessive Behaviour

Many dogs start subtly, and early signs are easy to miss. You may notice:

  • Tension in the body when someone gets close to a toy or food bowl

  • Ears pinned back or tail stiffening when they have something valuable

  • Hiding or running away with items rather than sharing or dropping them

  • Growling when another dog or child approaches their food or bed

Don’t ignore these signs—they’re your dog’s way of saying, “I’m not comfortable.” If left unaddressed, possessive behaviour can escalate.


🛑 What Not to Do

Before we dive into what works, let’s be clear about what doesn’t:

❌ Don’t punish your dog for growling.

Growling is communication. If you punish your dog for growling, they may skip the warning next time and go straight to biting.

❌ Don’t try to “prove dominance.”

Trying to take things away forcibly, hold your dog down, or scare them into submission will only damage your relationship and likely make the guarding worse.

❌ Don’t ignore it.

Possessive behaviour rarely improves on its own. The earlier you intervene with the right tools, the easier it is to manage.


✅ What to Do Instead: A Practical, Positive Approach

1. Understand What Your Dog Values

Start by observing what your dog guards. Is it food, toys, chews, you, or space? Knowing what triggers the behaviour helps you build a tailored plan.

2. Create a Calm, Low-Stress Environment

Anxious dogs are more likely to guard. Make sure your dog has their own space to eat or chew in peace, especially if you have children or other pets. Avoid crowding them when they’re eating or enjoying something special.

3. Use Positive Reinforcement Training

Teach your dog that people approaching = good things happen, not that their resource will be taken away.

Start simple:

  • Toss a high-value treat past your dog when you walk near them while they’re chewing a bone.

  • Gradually work up to walking closer and rewarding calm behaviour.

  • Teach a “drop it” or “trade” cue using treats or toys they want more than the current item.

This builds trust and removes the fear of losing what they value.

4. Set Boundaries Calmly

Boundaries are essential, especially when guarding people or spaces. You don’t need to dominate your dog—you need to lead them. Show them what’s allowed and what’s not using calm, clear guidance.

For example, if your dog guards a sofa, calmly guide them off and reward them for going to a designated spot instead. Consistency matters.

5. Work on General Impulse Control

Teaching your dog to wait, stay, leave it, and settle on command helps them develop better emotional regulation overall, not just around resources.

Short, daily training sessions that reward self-control go a long way in reducing possessiveness over time.


🐕 When to Seek Professional Help

If your dog’s possessive behaviour involves growling, lunging, or biting—or if you feel unsafe—it’s important to seek professional help. This isn’t something to tackle alone, especially if children are involved.

I offer 1-to-1 Behaviour Modification Training, specifically tailored for issues like possessiveness, anxiety, and aggression. Using kind, reward-based methods, we’ll work together to help your dog feel secure, reduce guarding behaviours, and rebuild a calm, respectful relationship.

👉 Click here to learn more and get your plan.


💬 Final Thoughts

Possessive behaviour isn’t about stubbornness, spite, or trying to be the boss. It’s about fear, insecurity, or confusion. Your dog is guarding what matters to them because they don’t yet trust that it’s safe, or that you’ll keep it safe for them.

With patience, empathy, and positive guidance, you can show them they don’t need to guard anything—not their food, not their toys, and certainly not you.


You’re not just solving a behaviour problem. You’re giving your dog emotional safety—and that changes everything.

Dog with purple collar looks up at person in jeans in grassy area. Fence partially visible. Possessive and attentive mood.
Possessive dog

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