How Do Dogs Show Possession?

In the wild, a canine has to protect his territory and meals to survive. However, your pooch doesn̵7;t need to protect his food bowl to make sure he something to eat. Sometimes dogs become aggressively protective of items they perceive as belonging to them. If not corrected, possessive behavior could lead to your pooch hurting someone.

  1. Possessive Behavior

    • When a dog becomes possessive of something, it can lead to aggression. It may begin as simply running off with his favorite toy and work its way into nipping or growling when you try and take it away. Signs of possessive aggression include becoming very still, growling, threatening barking, baring his teeth or snarling. This type of behavior will crop up when someone approaches the dog while he has the object of his possession. This anger could be directed at humans or other pets, and the dog may otherwise be friendly and non-aggressive.

    Objects of Possession

    • A dog can become possessive of a number of things in his environment. It could be a favorite toy or bone he refuses to share. A cuddly pet bed, his crate or even a shoe he̵7;s snatched from you can all become items your dog possesses. Food is a common object dogs will protect, be it their food bowl or favorite treat. While this is handy behavior in the wild, it̵7;s inappropriate in the home. He may guard his food bowl, but his water bowl is a less likely target.

    Prevention

    • Guarding their possessions is a behavior handed down to dogs from their wild ancestors. When puppies are young, they often have to compete for a prized place at the food dish with their litter mates. The pup that does the best at guarding his food gets the reward of a full belly. This teaches a puppy from youth that being aggressively possessive is useful. As a puppy, reward him for not being aggressive. Approach the bowl and remove it. When the puppy doesn̵7;t get upset, give him a tasty treat and return the bowl. Do the same thing with toys to let him know that it̵7;s OK for him to share. If he̵7;s rewarded for sharing as a pup, it̵7;s likely he won̵7;t develop possessive habits as an adult.

    Correcting Possessive Behavior

    • Keeping your dog confined while he eats is a way to let him feel more comfortable at the food bowl and keep him from hurting someone. Don̵7;t allow him to have toys he has been possessive with. Teaching him the ̶0;drop it̶1; command by giving him a tasty morsel when he relinquishes his favored toy can teach him that getting treats is better than possessing a toy. If your dog is very aggressive and tries to bite you, it̵7;s best to consult a professional before trying anything that could lead you to get hurt.