LifestyleDogsCanine behaviour specialist, Will Atherton, has explained how you can help prevent your dog from developing a personality trait that in some instances can result in it being put down15:44, 09 Jul 2026A dog trainer has issued a stark warning to pet owners about a concerning behaviour he occasionally observes in animals that can ultimately result in them being euthanised.‌Canine behaviour expert Will Atherton, who established his own dog training academy, used TikTok to inform his followers about what to watch for. The specialist describes the issue as a "bite waiting to happen", but can it be prevented?‌Will elaborated: "The one behaviour I have seen with dogs that leads to them being put down is resource guarding. This is a dog in the home that has learned to guard - whether that be food, toys, or its bed - and then somebody, often a child in the house, ends up getting bitten."‌To assist dog owners, Will has made preventing resource guarding a "fundamental principle" of his puppy training programmes. According to the specialist, there are several methods to achieve this. So here's everything you need to understand to tackle the problem.Content cannot be displayed without consentWill explained: "First, we have to make sure we begin with ourselves. We have to become high-level canine leaders who build a relationship with our dogs where they see us as their leader and look up to us for guidance and direction.‌"Once you get that right, 98% of resource guarding is never really a concern."The subsequent stage involves developing "impulse control". This teaches our dogs that if they genuinely desire something, they must first manage that impulse and follow their owners' direction."We must also then have rules, boundaries and expectations that we enforce with militant-like consistency," he continued.‌Will believes that embracing every element of his guidance, combined with a dog's fundamental obedience, good manners, and socialisation, will produce the "perfect canine companion".He concluded: "If a slight smidge of resource guarding ever starts to show itself, you will now know how to nip it in the bud immediately and never let it become a problem that leads to a bite - that leads to a euthanasia case."Supporting Will's advice, the RSPCA has shared its own resource guarding suggestions. The charity advises online:‌Top tips:Vary feeding times a little to prevent tension/anticipation as that time of day approaches.Have a few different bowls that you can alternate at random. This will reduce the value of a particular bowl, and the dog won’t get as possessive of one particular bowl.Vary the areas where the dog is fed around the house, so that a particular area does not become too high-value.Other things to consider:Article continues belowMake sure your dog’s basic needs are being met, as failing to do so can cause or exacerbate the anxiety fuelling the guarding behaviour.Make sure your dog is getting sufficient exercise, food, sleep, play and enrichment every day. If you are unsure how many of these things your particular dog needs, do some research on your dog's breed and age, and speak to your vet.With any new behaviour issue, book a vet appointment to rule out health issues or pain as a cause. Pain is a major cause of behaviour issues, so it is always wise to rule out health issues as a cause before you embark on a training and behaviour modification plan.Remember not to tell your dog off for guarding anything, as you’ll only add to their anxiety. Your dog is not being 'naughty', this is a fear and anxiety response.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌AnimalsMy PetsDogsAll About DogsTikTok