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Solve Aggression in Dogs Guarding Furniture or Territory: Clear Steps

Aggression in dogs guarding the bed or the couch is very common. Does your dog growl at you when you approach his crate or bed? Does he growl at you when you tell him off the couch or bed? Maybe he does this to other people, not you, but still worries you? Do you observe territorial barking in your hound?

This type of aggressive dog behavior is often called Resource Guarding. It can happen with your pet's favorite places or even the whole house. Canines can also guard their food bowl, toys and even their owners. Treatment for aggressive dogs need specialized training programs and I am here to help you start the healing journey...

Why does my dog growl when I tell him off the couch or bed?

Territorial behavior in dogs is a natural instinct rooted in their ancestral history as pack animals. Dogs have an innate drive to protect their territory, which can include their living space, belongings, and even their humans. Dog's ancestors had a real need for this type of behavior, they couldn't just let anyone take their safe space, they needed to protect it. Today, pet dogs no longer have need for this behavior, but it's still ingrained in their genes.

Scientific research has shown that territorial aggression in dogs is influenced by a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. For instance, certain breeds, such as guardian breeds like German Shepherds or Rottweilers, may exhibit stronger territorial tendencies due to their breeding history. Additionally, early socialization and experiences during puppyhood play a crucial role in shaping a dog's perception of its environment and what constitutes a threat. Herein lies the clue to solving this problem, teaching dogs to feel safe.

Furthermore, changes in a dog's environment or routine, such as moving to a new home or the introduction of a new pet or family member, can trigger territorial behavior as they seek to reestablish their sense of security and control.

Impact on the Dog and Owner Relationship

Territorial behavior can have significant implications for the relationship between a dog and its owner. For the dog, unchecked territorial behavior can lead to heightened stress and anxiety, as they constantly feel the need to defend their territory. This can manifest in various ways, such as destructive behavior, increased reactivity towards perceived threats or even health issues.

For the human, frustration and helplessness when their dog displays aggressive behavior leads to feelings of fear, sadness or even resentment towards their pet. Why is my dog attacking me when I give him everything? Please understand this is not personal, your dog actually loves you too, but he doesn't know how to deal with feelings of insecurity, and that's where we are going to help him.

For both, territorial aggression in dogs can strain the bond between a dog and its owner, creating tension and conflict in the household. Now both of you feel stressed and things keep spiriling down!

On the flip side, resource guarding training through positive reinforcement improves the dog's behavior and strengthens the bond between the dog and its owner. By establishing clear boundaries and reinforcing desirable behaviors, owners can create a harmonious living environment where both parties feel safe and secure.

Signs of resource guarding in dogs

To start helping your dog to feel safe in their environment, you need to learn some dog body language. Recognizing how your dog feels based on his/her body posture will help you understand when to stop and when to move on in your training plan.

Escalating body language for aggression in dogs:

Dogs will escalate their behavior as they feel more and more threatened. When you start noticing your dog is escalating, you need to back down and re-think the training plan. For this, we first need to recognize these signs:

1. The dog yawns, licks its nose or looks away from you: These are called "calming signals" and they are the first indication that your dog is a little bit uncomfortable. This is the ideal stage to work at on each step, we stay on each step until we see these signs dissapear and the dog noticeably relaxing.
   
2. The dog stiffens it's body, looks at you from the corner of their eyes (whale eyes) and breathing stops or becomes tense: The dog is showing higher signals of stress, ideally we shouldn't see this type of behavior during the training process. However, if we do see it once in a while, we need to change the plan and work slower.
3. The dog growls, snaps and/or barks: The dog is actively showing threatening signals, he really thinks he is going to have to protect his territory at all costs and the next step may be an attack. We NEVER, let me repeat this... NEVER, should see the dog at this stage during our training program. If you have tried to follow the steps and keep seeing these types of signals during the process, please contact a professional and certified dog trainer to help you.
   

Step 1: Identifying and Assessing Resource guarding in dogs

Consulting a Certified Professional Dog Trainer

When dealing with complex behavioral issues like territorial aggression, seeking the guidance of a professional dog trainer or behaviorist is highly recommended. These experts have the knowledge and experience to assess the situation objectively and provide personalized guidance based on your dog's specific needs. In a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, researchers found that dogs who received behavior modification therapy from a certified professional showed significant improvement in aggression-related behaviors compared to those who did not receive intervention.

Resource guarding in dogs can be dangerous, specially if you do not have experience in dog training for aggressive dogs. Therefore, I highly recommend you find a certified dog trainer to safely help you.

There is always a risk of injury when working with animals, please read our full disclaimer.

Observation and Documentation

The first step in addressing territorial behavior in dogs is to carefully observe and document their actions. Keep a record of when and where the behavior occurs, as well as any specific triggers or contexts that may provoke the response. These triggers can vary widely from one dog to another and may include factors such as the presence of strangers, other animals, or changes in the environment. This information will help you identify patterns and determine the severity of the problem.

I can't stress enough how important it is to keep records of your training sessions, specially with a complex problem like resource guarding. See below for a sample of how your document should look like and what to record.

The patterns, triggers and environmental factors you find will help you design a better training program to solve aggression in dogs guarding a couch, bed or other piece of furniture.

Step 2: Have your dog's needs met to solve territorial aggression in dogs

To solve any dog behavior problem, we first need to make sure our dog's needs are met. Aggressive dog behavior never happens out of the blue (and when it does it's probably a health issue!), it's a combination of factors that make your dog feel unsafe and needy. So, we need to make sure your dog feels safe and has everything he needs! Seems simple, right? Let's make sure you check every need off the list then.

A. Help your dog (and yourself!) feel safe with management techniques

Management techniques are not training. They are ways in which we can arrange the environment to help your dog feel safe, have alternatives and prevent aggressive behavior from happening even before we start with a training program. Management is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, because we want to reduce as much as possible the perceived threats your dog sees, helping him stay calm as much as possible. This lowers stress levels, your dog is able to learn better and avoids practicing unwanted behaviors. It's a win-win!

Later one you will be combining these strategies with resource guarding training to address the underlying causes of territorial behavior and encourage positive behavior changes in your dog. In the end, management may or may not be necessary always depending on the case.

1. Limiting Access to Problematic Furniture

If your dog shows signs of territorial behavior, such as growling or snapping when approached while on the couch or bed, it may be necessary to temporarily restrict their access to these areas. This can help prevent confrontations and reduce the likelihood of aggressive outbursts.

If your dog displays this behaviors on his own bed, or maybe it's impossible to block access to the problematic piece of furniture, then I recommend you put the bed in a quiet area of the house. This way the dog can still lay on his bed, but is not stressed by constant traffic going by.

Examples:

• Use a baby gate to block off access to a room or area. 
• Keep bedrooms doors closed.
• Block access to the couch by placing big boxes or upside down chairs on it.
• Move your dog's bed away from high traffic areas of the house.
  

2. Providing Alternative Comfortable Spaces

It's essential to provide your dog with alternative comfortable spaces where they can feel safe and secure, even if access to certain furniture is restricted. Investing in a cozy dog bed or blanket in a quiet area of the house can give your dog a sense of ownership and belonging.

In addition, giving your dog many different alternatives and options gives him more control and the ability to make his own choices (which boosts self-confidence and a feeling of safety).

• You can set up a plush dog bed in the corner of every main room, giving your dog the option to stay where people are or go somewhere quieter. Add some soft blankets and favorite toys to make the space inviting and appealing to your pet. 
• Reward your dog with a treat every time the choose to stay in this new area to reinforce their behavior of staying there (instead of your couch or bed).
• If your dog is bothered by people moving around, get him a big and comfy crate and cover the crate with a blanket to give your dog privacy and quiet.
  
• When you think about alternative spaces, think about your own dog. What surfaces does he like? Does he like to look out a window or be in a dark space? Does he like blankets or he prefers the floor? Get to know your dog to help your dog.
  

3. Supervision and Monitoring

Keep a close eye on your dog, especially in situations where resource guarding may occur. By closely monitoring your dog's behavior, you can intervene early and prevent potential conflicts or escalation. Look out for signs of stress or discomfort, such as tense body language, stiff posture, or excessive panting, which may indicate that your dog is feeling threatened or anxious.

B. Safety safety safety!

In addition to implementing training and management techniques, it's crucial to prioritize safety and prevent any potential conflicts or harm when addressing resource guarding behavior in dogs. Remember, your main and most important goal is to help your dog feel safe. That's it.

1. Avoiding Confrontation and Punishment

When dealing with aggression in dogs guarding the couch (or any furniture), it's vital to avoid confrontations and punishment. How do you respond if your dog growls at you? You step AWAY from your dog, re-think your plan or call a certified professional dog trainer. You NEVER punish your dog.

I know this may sound counter intuitive, "I need to let my dog know that growling is wrong, therefore I need to punish my dog when he growls, right?" Wrong, very very wrong. Remember, I have been telling you that your main job is to help your dog feel safe? Why, because your dog is growling at you out of FEAR, he is afraid you will take away his valuable place. This makes no sense! Right? You give everything to your dog, how can he feel that way? Because he is hard-wired (genetics) to feel that way. It's nothing personal, I promise.

Punishment and confrontation can escalate aggression and erode the trust between you and your dog.

2. Is Resource Guarding a Dominance Issue?

NO. And to be clear, no dog behavior problem is due to dominance issues. Most fear, anxiety and aggression problems in dogs are due to... you guessed it! Fear and the feeling of unsafety! Dominance theory has been disproven over and over and over again. Dominance theory trainers will tell you that you need to establish yourself as the "alpha" or "leader" with techniques that will only make your dog worse. Please do not follow any dominance theory advice, you will end up bitten, that I can promise.

C. Teach Your Dog Useful Commands for Self-Confidence

Teaching your dog basic obedience commands is essential for effective resource guarding training. These commands provide you with tools to redirect your dog's behavior and maintain control in various situations but most importantly, they provide you and your dog with a communication system.

Chances are you are trying to communicate with your dog unsuccessfully. Chances are you are very frustrated. Chances are your dog is frustrated and stressed out too. Why? Because he/she REALLY wants to understand you... he doesn't know how to, you need to teach him.

Teaching your dog basic commands makes your dog smarter and more relaxed, because now he understand you! He also feel self-confidence, he knows what to do to get a reward!

Start with these basic commands that will come in handy for resource guarders:

• Sit: can be used to calm your dog and redirect their attention away from potential triggers.
• Down: can be used to calm your dog and redirect their attention away from potential triggers.
• Stay: reinforces impulse control, allowing your dog to remain calm and patient.
• Drop-it: Teaches your dog to drop something he has in his mouth without getting upset.
• Leave-it: Teaches your dog to leave something he was about to get, also very good for impulse control.

Consistency is crucial in reinforcing desired behaviors and preventing confusion in your dog. Ensure that everyone in the household follows the same rules and commands consistently. Mixed messages can lead to frustration and setbacks in training.

D. Give Your Dog Enrichment and Safe Rest

Incorporating enrichment activities, walks and providing ample opportunities for rest are essential components of maintaining your dog's physical and mental well-being. By engaging your dog in stimulating activities and ensuring they have a comfortable space to relax, you can help prevent boredom, reduce stress, and promote overall happiness.

Here are my favorite and most durable dog toys to keep your dog entertained and tired.

Should you correct resource guarding?

If you are wondering if you should "correct" it as in punish it, then NO. We already established that your dog needs safety, not confrontation.

If you are wondering if you should "correct the problem", as in should you even do resource guarding training? Is it worth your time? Well, those are excellent questions and what we will explore here.

There are three main types of cases when we wonder how to stop your dog from being territorial on the couch or bed. And different ways to approach each one:

1. Management Only Cases: Some cases of aggression in dogs guarding the bed or couch do not require any training at all. We can just find a management solution. Usually this cases have the following characteristics: 1) There are no kids living in the house, no kids visit the house very often. 2) There is plenty of space in the house. Solution: Put your dog's bed in a low traffic area, close all doors to rooms with forbidden beds, block access to the couch. If you can find an environmental arrangement that makes your dog feel safer and there are not kids or people that could get hurt by accident. Then, that's it!
   
2. Basic Reward-Based Training Only Cases: Just like the case I told you about before (Moony), some dogs are aggressive because their owners made them by being confrontational. Stop using punishment, teach your dog basic commands, have all your dog's needs met and see how quickly your dog stops trying to defend itself from you (stops being aggressive).
   
3. Resource Guarding Training Cases: If you do not fall into any of the above categories, then you need to continue reading. Resource guarding training can be overwhelming and even though I will teach you the general strategy, each dog needs a personalized program, hire a certified dog trainer if you need to!
   

Step 3: Treatment for aggression in dogs guarding furniture

This is a sample tutorial that contains 10 stages, each one consisting of several steps. You will most likely need to change it depending on your particular situation, but the process is the same. The whole idea is to give you a template you can follow and adapt to your unique case.

If you think your dog will bite you, please wear protective gloves or have your dog wear a muzzle in the beginning. However, as mentioned above, if your dog shows signs of stress or threat you are not following the protocol correctly and need to adjust it or consult with a Certified Dog Trainer.

Recommended Positive Dog Training Tools

Positive dog trainers are known to use very little gadgets and tools. This is because we want training to be positive and won't use corrective leashes nor other corrective tools. We do use 3 very basic tools for dog training, here are my favorite ones:

STAGE 1: "Touch" command

Goal: To treat aggression in dogs guarding furniture it is useful to have your dog follow a target or even approach it from a distance if cued to do it. This is called target training and will enable you to move your pet away from a piece of furniture without pushing him away.

What you will need: A target (this could simply be the palm of your hand, a fist or tip of your index finger). You can also use a more sophisticated device like a wooden spoon or even a commercial target with a clicker attached to it. You will also need food rewards such as dog treats, regular kibble, pieces of chicken, cheese, carrots, and anything your hound likes. A treat pouch is another useful tool to have treats handy.

1. Stretch your fist (palm of your hand or target stick) out when your canine friend is looking at you. If he looks at it, approaches or even touches it click and treat!

2. Repeat many times. If your dog is only looking at your fist but not approaching it try using shaping to get him to touch it. Shaping is a method in which you will reward smaller approximations to the end goal. For example, first you reward him for looking at your fist, then you reward him (click and treat) for moving closer, and so on until he has his nose glued to your fist. 

3. When he starts putting his nose against your fist, start moving him around (he should follow your hand, nose glued to your fist). Start by moving your hand a few inches, reward if he follows, then a little bit further and so on. Keep doing this until you can move him all around your house.

4. Now say the command "touch" or "target" (whichever word you like best, but pick only one and stick with it). After you say it extend your fist, click and reward when your pet touches it.

5. After many repetitions your hound should start approaching you after your say the command and before you extended your fist (which acts as a visual command or hand signal).

6. You are ready to go to the next step when your furry friend reliably (8 out of 10 times) responds to your verbal command "touch".

STAGE 2: Start with non-guarded furniture

Goal: To be able to cue your dog "On" and "Off" a location he does NOT guard. For example, if he guards his crate, then use the sofa. If he guards every piece of furniture in the house, then find a nice location and maybe throw a rug on the floor to start training.

1. Cue your dog with your "touch" command to get "on the couch" (or whatever piece of furniture you are working with). You should see no dog growling, snarling or barking).
   
2. Immediately Target your dog "off" the couch, as soon as he does it click and treat!
3. Repeat 3-5 times. Then start adding a different word: instead of "touch" say "On" (or "Up", "inside" whatever you like) and "Off" (or "down", "out").
   
4. After many repetitions your hound should start understanding the verbal command "On". Try it by saying the word and waiting a few seconds before using the fist as a hand signal.
   
5. As you start fading out the treats (never go below 7 treats out of 10 good responses, your pet might get frustrated at this point). Try to reward with food only if your pet responds to your verbal cue without the hand signal.
6. Repeat meant times "on" the couch, "off" the couch. Remember that your are mostly rewarding the "off". Only "reward the "on" if you see your pet loosing interest, but don't do it too often.
   
7. You are ready to move onto the next step when your pet reliably steps on and off the couch on your command. Note: This is only on a couch (or place) he doesn't show any territorial barking or growling.
   

STAGE 3: Move on to guarded furniture

Goal: To be able to cue your dog onto a piece of furniture he DOES guard.

You are getting the idea right?…we are adding small difficulties one at a time, going SLOWLY is the key to solve aggression in dogs! Be patient and soon you will no longer have a problem of aggression in dogs guarding furniture.

1. Repeat the steps in STAGE 2 but now on a location your dog DOES guard.
   

STAGE 4: Add time

Goal: To be able to cue your dog onto a piece of furniture AFTER he has been there for a while. Many times, aggression in dogs that guard their furniture happens because they might feel less inclined to get off the couch/bed/crate if they have been there for some time and are comfortable. You need to teach your pet that no matter how long he has been there, he needs to get "off" when you ask.

1. Repeat the steps in STAGE 2 but now wait 1 second before you command "off".
2. Then wait 5 seconds.
   
3. Repeat alternating times randomly (1-3-2-57-10-3 sec). They idea is to prevent your pet to predict WHEN you will ask him "off".
4. Keep adding time until you reach up to 30 minutes. Remember always keep it random!
5. At some point you can also start adding other difficulties like you leaving the room and coming back. Again always with small increments!
6. Also add different directions you are coming from, leave to different rooms of the house, etc.
   

STAGE 5: Ask other people to participate

Now you will actually repeat Training STAGES 1-3 but with different family members. This will teach your pet to nicely get off a place whenever ANYONE asks him to. To treat aggression in dogs, generalizing a concept is extremely important to help your pooch understand the concepts better.

Repeating the steps above you can always add different difficulties when treating aggression in dog with resource guarding. Here are some examples.

STAGE 6: repeat STAGES 1-4 adding distance (ask your pet to get off the furniture from different distances)
STAGE 7: repeat STAGES 1-4 after petting your dog (start by reaching out your hand, then petting him for a second, 2 seconds, etc.)
STAGE 8: repeat STAGES 1-4 After you sit next to your pet (start by bending a little bit but not sitting all the way, then sit and slowly add time)
STAGE 9: repeat STAGES 1-4 The sky is your limit! Be creative in adding difficulties that could come in handy later on. The more you work with your canine friend the better the chances you will solve resource guarding and aggression in dogs.

Of course your list might look differently, it's OK as long as YOU KNOW what is important for your dog to know, you will be fine.

If your dog is likely to bite please do all of the above steps with a muzzle and then do them ALL OVER AGAIN without it. Aggression in dogs is heightened when stressed so all measures of security should be taken.

STAGE 10: Just reminders...

This the end of the step-by-step guide to dog training for aggressive dogs guarding furniture. Your hound should be doing great by now. All you need to do from now on is once in a while ask him to step off a piece of furniture and give him a treat when he does it. Randomly mix duration, distance, location, people, everything you did above. These should be like little test-reminders.  You do not need to do this every day anymore, just once in a while to make sure things are OK.

If at any point of this tutorial you notice NO changes in your dog, or you can't even get him to relax to start with the program, I suggest you visit your vet and ask about meds for aggressive dogs. Medication will help your dog relax and be able to learn better.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aggression in dogs

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This article was written by Natalia Rozas, Ph.D. and Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA #4071465) and updated on March 29th, 2024. Case studies and anecdotes are real but to protect the privacy of our clients the names and details are changed.

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