Many studies have shown that resource guarding over food in a shelter environment doesn’t always transfer to the home—and vice versa. However, removing as many stressors as possible can sometimes help a dog stop guarding altogether. Still, there are the rare dogs that guard everything: sleeping spaces, food, toys, or anything they fear they might lose.

Early in my dog training career, I met one of these special cases. He was a puppy hidden in the back of the shelter where I ran training classes for the general public. One day, a shelter worker asked me to meet him.

This little pup was absolutely adorable—but just as naughty. I wasn’t looking to add another dog to my life at the time, and the shelter manager was protective about where he might end up, if he went to a home at all. They warned me: “He growls and snaps when handled, guards everything, and displays “aggression” towards other dogs.” An 8-week-old puppy? Surely, there had to be some mistake!

My naïve optimism propelled me forward. I convinced a friend to give him a try—with my help, of course.

Testing the Waters

The first test was introducing the pup, Luthor, to my dog, Dixie. Dixie, a solid 65-pound dog with a calm and commanding presence, generally had a great way with puppies—her demeanor usually caused dogs to fall in line. But Luthor wasn’t having it. The moment he saw her, he barked, growled, and lunged. Despite my better judgment, I instructed the shelter manager to release him, confident his tiny teeth couldn’t cause any real harm. Spoiler: it didn’t go quite as I’d hoped.

When released, Luthor made a beeline for Dixie. As he reached her, she calmly pinned him with her shoulder, holding him firmly on the ground despite his flailing and howling. When he finally stopped struggling, she let him up and play-bowed to him. That simple gesture opened the door for them to play together, and that’s how we ended up bringing him home—for foster care and some much-needed behavioral work.

Trial, Errors, and Second Chances

Luthor went home with my friend Kenny as a foster-to-adopt situation, but it quickly became clear that Luthor wasn’t the pup for him. Kenny’s long hours, including his job as a bartender, weren’t compatible with managing Luthor’s quirks. One incident cemented the decision: One evening after work, Luthor snatched a stack of money, growled over it, and refused to let it go. While Kenny found this amusing at first, his boss had a very different reaction.

So, back to me he came. I immediately started working on trading protocols with him, focusing on building positive associations with giving up items. Luthor was nothing if not smart and vocal—his tiny puppy growl could make you jump!

After another failed adoption attempt within 24 hours (apparently his loud, grumbly voice was not endearing), I decided to keep him. If anyone could help him, it had to be me.

Developing a Framework for Success

At just 12 weeks old, I began teaching Luthor the basics with a strong focus on impulse control. We attended puppy kindergarten, where I quickly discovered he needed his own water bowl and significant management during loose play sessions. He had an undeniable desire to control every situation.

Despite my best efforts and countless protocols, his resource guarding with both people and dogs remained deeply ingrained. That’s when I decided to channel his energy into structured activities. After trying schutzhund training, we discovered the sport of French Ring. Luthor loved both sports —until one day, he refused to jump off the A-frame. A trip to the vet revealed hip dysplasia.

Rethinking the Approach

Luthor’s behavior consistently improved after our training sessions, and I realized why: It gave him a safe outlet for his resource guarding. So, I decided to take a different tack. Instead of trying to extinguish the behavior, I reinforced it in appropriate contexts.

For example, one of his favorite toys was an Orbee Earth Ball. I began rewarding him for growling over it, giving him permission to express his instincts in a controlled way. Over time, this turned into a game: He would grab his ball, shake it happily, then run up to other dogs to show it off. What once triggered conflict became a bonding tool.

Before long, Luthor started thriving in his role at home. He loved fostering puppies, gently teaching them when they could play with his toys or when it was time to back off—all without losing his innate gentleness. Even nail clipping and ear cleaning, which had been major challenges, became easier when I let him hold and grumble at his ball.

Lessons Learned

By the time Luthor turned two, he was a different dog. Sure, he was still loud and grumbly, but I trusted him in any situation. His impeccable manners and calm demeanor seemed to soothe other dogs just by being near him. He taught me invaluable lessons about patience, understanding, and the importance of working with—rather than against—a dog’s natural instincts.

Would I recommend every shelter place a pup like Luthor in a new home? Absolutely not. But for me, he was worth every moment, and I will always be a better trainer for having known him.

One Final Note:

Creature, who lived with Luthor, also taught Luthor an invaluable lesson about patience, understanding, and the importance of working with—rather than against—a dog’s natural instincts. 🙂