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Guarding and Protecting Behaviours in Dogs: 9 Points, Tips and Techniques

  • Writer: Marek Drzewiecki
    Marek Drzewiecki
  • Apr 3
  • 8 min read

Dogs are more than companions—they are protectors, guardians, and deeply intuitive beings. Guarding and protecting behaviours in dogs arise from ancient survival instincts, once essential for defending pack territory, food, and kin.


Today, these behaviours remain deeply embedded in the canine mind. When guided properly, they contribute to a dog’s sense of purpose, identity, and security.


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This blog explores how to understand, manage, and support guarding and protecting behaviours with confidence. You'll learn proven training approaches, environmental strategies, and scientific insights to help your dog express these instincts safely and appropriately—creating a bond built on trust, clarity, and mutual respect.


1. What Are Guarding and Protecting Behaviours?


Guarding and protecting behaviours are instinctive actions dogs take to defend what they perceive as valuable—home, people, food, toys, or territory. These actions include barking at strangers, growling over food, body-blocking other dogs or humans, and standing between their person and a perceived threat. Some signs are subtle; others can become intense without guidance.


These behaviours reflect an inherited legacy from wild ancestors. Wolves and early dogs relied on vigilance to survive in harsh, competitive environments. They guarded dens, food caches, and pack members with determination. Today’s domestic dogs have inherited this wiring, even though their lives are far removed from that of their ancestors.


Rather than viewing these behaviours as problems, we can see them as expressions of loyalty, alertness, and responsibility. Our task as dog owners is to create a world in which these instincts are acknowledged and shaped—not punished or ignored. Proper training gives dogs emotional structure and teaches them that they are safe, no matter who’s at the door.


Key takeaways:

  • Guarding and protecting behaviours arise from deeply rooted canine instincts.

  • Your role is to guide—not suppress—these natural drives.


2. Common Types of Guarding and Protecting Behaviours in Dogs


Guarding manifests in several different forms, depending on a dog’s temperament, life experience, and environment. Three major types are frequently seen in domestic dogs: territorial guarding, resource guarding, and personal guarding.


Territorial guarding is what many owners notice first. The dog may bark at people walking by the home, stand alert at windows, or become reactive when guests enter. The dog is not trying to be difficult—they believe they are protecting their family’s domain. This behaviour is especially common in breeds historically selected for protection work.


Resource guarding shows up around food, toys, chews, or resting spots. A dog might freeze, growl, or snatch an item when someone comes too close. It often starts subtly, with stiff posture or darting eyes, but can escalate without intervention. This behaviour reflects an ancient fear of losing vital resources and can occur in both puppies and adults.


Personal guarding is directed toward a person or another animal. A dog may position themselves between their owner and a perceived threat or become tense when another dog approaches their human. This behaviour may feel flattering at first, but if left unchecked, it can create stress and social conflict.


Key takeaways:

  • Guarding behaviour varies by trigger—space, possessions, or people.

  • Understanding the type helps you shape an appropriate training plan.


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3. Guiding Guarding Behaviour Through Clear Training


Training is the language through which we communicate safety, expectations, and leadership. When addressing guarding and protecting behaviours, clarity and consistency matter more than force or dominance. Dogs don’t need to be “put in their place”—they need to feel understood, secure, and supported in making better choices.


Start by reinforcing calm, non-guarding behaviours. If your dog remains relaxed when a guest enters or walks past another dog without reacting, reward them. Mark the moment they make a good decision. Over time, their emotional responses to those triggers begin to shift, especially if you consistently offer positive outcomes for staying calm.


Teaching key obedience behaviours like “stay,” “place,” or “leave it” gives you practical tools to redirect guarding impulses. If your dog barks at the window, you can calmly send them to a mat. If they stiffen near their food, teaching “wait” helps reduce tension. These aren’t just commands—they're coping mechanisms that create structure and confidence.


Incorporate exposure work gently. Introduce your dog to low-level triggers in safe, non-threatening contexts. For example, have a calm friend enter the home and toss treats, without direct interaction. Gradual exposure, paired with rewards, rewires your dog’s association with potential threats.


Key takeaways:

  • Reward calm choices and reinforce self-regulation through training.

  • Obedience work builds trust and gives your dog emotional structure.


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4. The Science Behind Guarding and Protecting Behaviours


Scientific research supports what trainers have observed for generations: guarding and protecting behaviours are neurologically, genetically, and emotionally grounded.


One important study from Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Van der Borg et al., 2015) found that behaviours linked to aggression and protectiveness vary significantly by breed and early life experiences. The study showed that instinct is only part of the picture—social environment and training are just as critical. Read the abstract here.


Guarding behaviours are mediated by the amygdala, the brain’s emotional threat detection centre. When a dog perceives danger, the amygdala activates a cascade of responses: heart rate rises, muscles tense, and attention narrows.


This process is automatic, which is why guarding behaviours can happen so quickly and intensely. The key is to shift how the dog interprets the trigger—not just to suppress the behaviour.


Territorial behaviour, in a broader scientific context, is well-documented in animal ethology. Dogs, like many mammals, use scent marking, vocalisation, and body language to communicate ownership of space. This biological foundation is detailed in Wikipedia’s article on territorial behaviour, which explores how many species exhibit similar defence patterns.


Key takeaways:

  • Guarding instincts are natural, but their expression can be shaped.

  • Modern neuroscience supports the role of training in changing emotional reactions.


5. Creating a Secure and Calm Environment


Your dog’s surroundings play a major role in how their instincts develop and express themselves. A chaotic or unpredictable home can make dogs more vigilant, increasing the likelihood of guarding. A calm, structured environment, by contrast, allows dogs to rest, decompress, and trust that their humans are in charge.


Designate quiet, consistent places for rest—ideally away from entrances or busy foot traffic. If your dog always rests near the door, they may feel it’s their responsibility to monitor and defend it. Instead, create peaceful zones with cosy beds or open crates, where they learn that nothing is expected of them except to relax.


Avoid free access to windows, fences, or balconies if your dog is highly territorial. These areas offer constant stimulation and perceived threats, keeping the dog in a heightened state of alert. Reduce their stress by blocking access or adding visual barriers. Combine this with regular, enriching walks that allow your dog to explore, sniff, and burn energy in healthy ways.


Establish routines for feeding, training, and walks. Dogs thrive on predictability. When life feels orderly, they have less need to act on instincts. A predictable schedule gives them space to just be a dog—without pressure to guard.


Key takeaways:

  • Calm, structured environments reduce the need for vigilance.

  • Predictable routines help dogs feel emotionally safe.


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6. When It’s Time to Call in a Professional


While many guarding and protecting behaviours can be managed at home, some require expert intervention. If your dog shows frequent growling, biting, or severe anxiety around people or dogs, don’t wait. Early help leads to faster progress and fewer risks.


A skilled trainer or behaviourist can assess your dog’s triggers and emotional state, creating a plan that reduces stress, teaches impulse control, and restores safety. These plans might involve customised desensitisation protocols, specific marker training, or adjustments to your home routine.


Sometimes, dogs with unresolved trauma or genetic reactivity may also benefit from veterinary support. Pain, hormonal imbalances, or neurological issues can amplify guarding behaviours. A complete evaluation ensures no stone is left unturned.


Key takeaways:

  • Intense or escalating behaviours require timely expert support.

  • Behaviour plans tailored to your dog lead to long-term progress.


7. Breeds More Prone to Guarding and Protecting Behaviours


Some breeds are genetically predisposed to display guarding and protecting behaviours more intensely. Breeds such as Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Cane Corsos have been selectively bred for generations to protect property, livestock, and people. These dogs are naturally more alert, more territorial, and more responsive to perceived threats.


Understanding this predisposition allows you to manage expectations. A Belgian Malinois will likely need more mental stimulation, structure, and training precision than a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.


This doesn’t mean one breed is better—it simply means their instincts differ. The key is to honour those instincts while providing appropriate outlets for them.


Even within breeds, individual temperament matters. Not every German Shepherd is territorial. A dog’s early experiences, socialisation window, and learned associations shape how these instincts unfold. That’s why personalised observation and training are more effective than breed generalisations.


Key takeaways:

  • Some breeds are hardwired to guard—channel the instinct rather than fight it.

  • Temperament and early experiences shape behaviour as much as genetics.


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8. The Emotional World of a Guarding Dog


A dog that guards is not “bad” or “dominant”—they’re often anxious, overstimulated, or unsure of their role. Their bark, growl, or stiff body language is a communication of stress, not defiance. Dogs who feel they must protect everything are often carrying an emotional load they were never meant to bear.


When a dog is constantly on alert, their nervous system remains in a sympathetic (fight or flight) state. Over time, this leads to physical exhaustion, chronic stress, and behavioural rigidity. What may appear to be aggression is often rooted in overwhelm or uncertainty about who’s in charge of safety.


Giving a guarding dog clarity about their role and reducing their perceived responsibility can be deeply healing. Calm leadership from their human, combined with safe exposure and clear feedback, gives them permission to relax. Once a dog realises that protection is no longer their job, they can finally rest—body, mind, and heart.


Key takeaways:

  • Most guarding dogs feel anxious or over-responsible, not aggressive.

  • Relieving them of the “job” of protector transforms their emotional state.


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9. Body Language: Reading the Early Signs


Before the growl or bark comes, your dog is already communicating. Learning to read canine body language helps you intervene early and prevent escalation. Subtle cues like stiffening, lip licking, yawning, whale eye (seeing the whites of the eyes), or a low, tense tail can all indicate that a dog feels threatened or unsure.


If these early signs are ignored or punished, the dog may skip them next time and go straight to more intense behaviour. That’s why observation is powerful—when you spot tension building, you can redirect with movement, food, or a calming voice before it tips over into guarding.


Training isn’t just about commands; it’s also about reading emotional shifts and responding with clarity. Your ability to notice and respond to early signs of discomfort will reduce stress for both of you and prevent unnecessary confrontations or reactions.


Key takeaways:

  • Dogs communicate tension long before reacting—watch closely.

  • Early intervention prevents escalation and builds trust.


Conclusion


Guarding and protecting behaviours are not flaws—they are expressions of ancient instincts trying to find their place in a modern world. With patient guidance, clear training, and a calm environment, these instincts can be shaped into something beautiful: loyalty, trust, and quiet confidence.


Your dog wants to feel useful, seen, and secure. By offering them leadership, structure, and understanding, you allow their true nature to shine through—free from fear, confusion, or chaos. Let your dog be what they were born to be: not just a protector, but a calm and trusted companion.


Key takeaways:

  • With proper guidance, guarding behaviours become strengths.

  • Dogs need safety, structure, and support to thrive.


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