How to stop Your dog From Guarding You at the dog Park

exactly how to stop your dog from “guarding” you from other dogs at the dog park.

Does your dog do this?

Does he growl or bark or nip (or worse) at other dogs that method you?

While your dog may believe he’s “protecting” you from these “threats,” those other dogs are NOT genuine threats and he should trust you to handle them.

I’m going to go over a few of my general thoughts and concepts for managing this problem. keep in mind every dog is an private and it’s finest to consult with a expert fitness instructor who can observe your actual dog.

These tips are to assist you brainstorm.

How to stop a dog from guarding you at the dog park or beach

As always, it assists to look at why the dog may be guarding you.

Is it?

Resource guarding (where YOU are the resource)

Protective instincts (feels the requirement to protect you or your other dog)

Fear (I’ll get you so you don’t hurt us!)

Not truly guarding but a lack of social skills

Reacting to the “excited” energy of the oncoming dog (does he react the exact same method to calm dogs?)

Trying to manage excited, anxious or inappropriate energy of other dogs

I recognize sometimes it’s difficult to tell why your dog is acting a certain way, so I suggest you get an experienced buddy to observe your dog’s behavior (and YOUR behavior!) or hire a expert trainer. even a single one-on-one session with a fitness instructor can be a big help.

My 5 tips for getting manage of this problem

*Obviously, avoid dog parks if your dog is aggressive. Some dogs just can’t go to dog parks ever and that’s OK. These tips are geared towards dogs that are still able to go to the park but are pushing their limits.

Also see my post: dog possessiveness aggression

Tip #1 – Desensitization

It can work truly well to find up with a desensitization plan for your dog. What I mean by that is you would slowly change your dog’s emotional response to other dogs approaching you so he ultimately over time begins to view this as a positive thing or at least neutral.

Of course, a dog park is not a great location to method this plan because there’s as well much going on and as well much is out of your control. It’s best to work with a expert fitness instructor and come up with a step-by-step plan.

This would likely include setting up some managed circumstances with one or two calm, easygoing dogs and showering your dog with extremely valued treats like hot dogs as the dogs method you. When the dogs leave, the treats end too. You want your dog to think, “I like when that dog approaches! It means I get hot dogs!”

Obviously this type of training takes a great deal of time, patience and having a fitness instructor to assist in addition to having access to some seriously easygoing, mild-mannered dogs.

Tip #2 – When approached by dogs, keep moving!

If you’re at the dog park with your dog and another dog is approaching, don’t just stand there like you’re waiting on your dog to protect you. If you stand there anticipating a reaction, you’ll likely get one!

Just keep things light and moving. When another dog comes bounding up, just keep on walking to the side to avoid head-on confrontations. ignore the other dog and phone call your dog along as you keep walking. Your dog will likely follow.  Plus, you’re putting your dog in a complying with setting vs. out in front “protecting” you.

Tip #3 – Defuse the energy of both dogs

When there’s a dog bounding up, it assists to quickly address your dog with “stay” and then deal with the other dog and provide a quick “hey!” This will usually pause the oncoming dog for a split-second, which will defuse the preliminary energy of both dogs and decrease the possibilities of an “outburst.”

Then you would calmly keep moving in the exact same direction but to the side, calling your dog along as explained above.

See: What to do when off-leash dog charges you

Tip #4 – work on some serious obedience with your dog

If your dog is showing moderate aggression and he doesn’t comply with basic obedience commands, he has no company being in a dog park for now.

On the other hand, if he will stay when told, come when called and look at you when asked, you’re going to have much more success getting his attention and guiding him on suitable behavior in general.

There is no “quick fix” to most dog behavioral problems but a solid very first step is to boost your dog’s level of training overall.

Some goals all dog owners should reach with their dogs at an absolute minimum:

The dog will sit and stay sitting for 5 minutes at house up until released with “Free!” or “OK!”

The dog will stay in a down setting for 5 minutes with moderate distractions such as outside on a walk up until released.

The dog makes eye contact with a “watch me!” command on walks.

The dog comes when called 99 percent of the time in the back lawn or in the home after the very first command.

Tip #5 – indication up for an obedience class

These kinds of classes are generally economical and it provides your dog a chance to work in a managed setting around other dogs.

No, resource guarding is generally not addressed in these classes, but it assists to build a solid foundation for your dog’s training. advanced classes will work on skills like leaving your dog in a “down/stay” while you walk around the space petting the other dogs.

Dogs with a high level of self-control are going to be much better behaved and workable in general.

Does your dog tend to guard you at the dog park?

If you still have concerns or perhaps a similar issue that’s not rather such as this one, leave a comment below and I’ll assist you brainstorm.

Related posts:

Stop dog’s possessiveness of toys at the dog park

How to stop my little dog from guarding me

When one dog growls at the other