canine
Resource Guarding or Rule Setting? In the first of a two-part article, Suzanne Clothier explains the distinction she makes between resource guarding and rule setting in canine behavior, and why this categorization influences her approach to addressing behavior issues
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he myriad of behaviors that we label as “resource guarding” de serves a more nuanced understanding. In this article, I want to consider the difference between resource guarding and rule set ting, an important distinction that shapes how I address these behav iors. But first, the term “resource” itself turns out to be awfully broad. What exactly is the resource? It’s beyond the scope of this article to de fine each type of resource but next time you hear “resource guarding” give some thought to what the resource may be. Veterinary behaviorist Joël Dehasse (2003) delineates multiple subsets of competitivesocial aggression (competition for resources or privileges) as follows: • Food elicited aggression. • Nonfood object elicited/possession aggression. • Resting area elicited aggression. • Social interaction/alliancecontrol elicited aggression. • Spacecontrol elicited aggression. • Sexualcontrol elicited aggression. • Other resource elicited aggression, nonspecified. • Dueling fights. To complicate things further, there is not full agreement in the liter ature about how to define resource guarding, which is often used inter changeably with possession aggression. Jacobs et al. (2018) defined resource guarding as “the use of avoidance, threatening, or aggressive behaviors by a dog to retain control of food or nonfood items in the presence of a person or other animal.” Comparing that with Dehasse’s (2003) list, it’s easy to see that there are many nuances absent. 28
BARKS from the Guild/March 2021
Graphics © Suzanne Clothier 2004 / All Rights Reserved
Our Own Behavior Do you keep your credit cards and cash close to you when out in public? Do you keep your laptop or cell phone near you when not home? Do you cover your coffee cup or plate if someone tries to clear the table be fore you are done? Chances are good the answer to these questions is “yes!” and perhaps even “of course!” Next question: why are you such a resource guarder? Further, are there some situations in which you feel a stronger need to guard your resources, and others where you are a bit more relaxed? If we were to assess your behavior in the uncomfortable or unsafe situa tions, how might that contrast with your behavior at home or in safe, fa miliar settings? The simple reality is that you guard your resources in your posses sion because you do not want anyone to take them. Your behavior is one way to say, “Mine.” Recognize that your behavior is based in some anxiety about losing your resource. By contrast, perhaps you’ve baked a batch of brownies, and as you’re leaving the house to walk your dog you warn your housemate, “Do not touch those!” You fully expect that there will be a full plate upon your return. Maybe you snag one of the few remaining sale items and put it in your cart, then leave your cart while you wander further down the aisle. Someone else spots the sale item in your cart, and be gins to edge closer, but you just look up and give them a glare and they move away. This is rule setting. And it is another way to say, “Mine.” Rule setting behavior is based in confidence about your ability to control access to the resource even at a distance, or perhaps even in your absence. You
