Bringing home littermates or raising multiple puppies together can be rewarding — but it also comes with challenges. One of the most common issues is resource guarding: when one puppy growls, snaps, or fights to keep food, toys, or even attention away from their sibling. Addressing resource guarding early ensures your puppies learn to share peacefully and feel safe around each other. In this article, you’ll learn how to recognize, prevent, and manage resource guarding between puppies.
What is resource guarding?
- Defensive behavior when a puppy tries to control access to valued items like food, toys, beds, or even people;
- Includes growling, stiffening, snapping, or lunging when another puppy comes near.
Why it happens between puppies
- Competition for limited resources;
- Learned behavior from litter dynamics;
- Fear of losing access to food, toys, or attention.
Signs of resource guarding between puppies
- One puppy eating faster or blocking the other from food;
- Growling or snapping when approached during meals or with toys;
- Stiff body language and intense staring when another puppy nears their valued item.
Feed puppies separately
- Use crates or feed in different rooms to prevent competition;
- Supervise mealtimes until you’re confident both puppies eat calmly.
Provide duplicates of toys and chews
- Ensure there are plenty of toys for both puppies;
- Remove high-value items like bones if they trigger guarding.
Reward calm sharing
- Praise and treat puppies when they play or rest calmly near each other;
- Use treats to reinforce calmness around shared spaces.
Supervise play
- Watch for signs of tension during play with toys;
- Interrupt if one puppy guards a toy — remove the toy and redirect to separate activities.
Teach “trade” and impulse control
- Practice giving up toys or chews for better treats;
- Reward both puppies for letting go calmly.
Avoid punishing guarding
- Punishment increases fear and escalates aggression;
- Focus on positive training to build trust and safety.
When to seek professional help
Contact a certified trainer or behaviorist if:
- Guarding escalates to fights causing injury;
- Puppies show intense anxiety during meals or play;
- Resource guarding doesn’t improve with consistent training.