Prevent resource guarding: Help your dog learn to share toys

Sharing toys is an essential skill for dogs.

Like teaching children how to share, training a dog to share toys with other dogs can help them create connections with other animals and their pet parents.

How can you help your dog learn to share toys with another pup during fetch or playtime?

Bringing your dog to the dog park? Going to your friend’s house to meet their new pup? Adopting a second rescue? In all of these scenarios, your fur baby will likely play around with their toys and other dogs.

Teaching a dog new skills – including sharing – is something every owner should prioritize.

Dogs have a tendency called resource guarding, which means they protect valuable items, food, locations, or even people from other people or dogs.

They often retrieve an item in a game of fetch, only to keep it out of their owner’s or another dog’s reach.

Resource guarding is an instinct in dogs, which can be hard to train around.

Using positive reinforcement, it is possible, however, to train them to share with others and show them they’ll receive their toys again if they follow commands.

Here are some helpful tips to get your dog to share toys quickly.

Resource guarding: To share or not to share

Bringing your dog to the dog park? Going to your friend’s house to meet their new pup? Adopting a second rescue? Your fur baby will likely play around with their toys and other dogs in all these scenarios.

Teaching a dog new skills – including sharing – is something every owner should prioritize.

However, dogs have a tendency called resource guarding, which means they protect valuable items, food, locations, or even people from other people or dogs. Dogs will often retrieve an item in a game of fetch, only to keep it out of their owner’s or another dog’s reach.

How to train your dog to share

Resource guarding is an instinct in dogs, which can be hard to train around. It is possible, however, to train them to share with others and show them they’ll receive their toys again if they follow commands.

Here are some helpful tips to get your dog to share its toys quickly.

Sharing with you vs. sharing with other dogs

Sharing does not come easily to dogs, especially if you encourage them to share toys with other dogs.

It’s essential to start your sharing training by asking your dog to share their toy with you, a friend, or a family member. After your dog masters this skill, you can train it to share toys with fellow canines.

Understand your dog’s emotional state

Several factors contribute to your dog’s sharing capabilities. For example, the emotional state of your dog(s), their perceived value of toys, the purpose of the toy, and the probability and risk of your dog’s non-compliance all play a role in whether or not they will share.

Be aware of these conditions and give your dog the environment to feel comfortable sharing and avoid resource guarding. Purchase toys that vary in perceived value – start with low-cost, low-quality toys and move on to more expensive, valuable toys once they begin sharing.

Find the most effective training technique

There are a few training methods you can use to train your dog to share, including:

• Give and trade: Give your dog a treat, but only if they return the toy to you.
• Drop cue: Train your dog to drop a toy on a command, such as a snap, clap, or trigger word.
• Rewards: When your dog turns over its valued toy, reward them with treats, pets, and other rewards.
• Proximity desensitization: In this method, you train your dog to be near toys without interacting with them. Teach them to stay calm and avoid touching a toy so they learn that toys like food or other valuable items should not be guarded.

Every dog is different, so choosing a training method that suits you and your pup is essential.

Three best toy brands for your dog

What are some of the best toy brands for your dog to help them learn how to share? Check out some of your options below.

Planet Dog

Looking for eco-friendly dog toys? Explore Planet Dog’s wide range of dog toy products, especially those meant for aggressive chewers.

While your dog learns to share, they could play too rough with toys, getting into a tug-of-war battle with another pup. This could lead to toys breaking or falling apart. Consider buying sustainable and durable toys that benefit the environment and your wallet.

KONG

A popular dog toy brand is KONG – you probably know the red, rubber KONG Classic toy, which you can fill with your dog’s favorite food, like cheese or peanut butter. KONG toys are also suitable for training your dog to share. You can buy the KONG Dental With Rope and use it as a tool in your sharing training sessions.

Goughnuts

The Goughnuts brand produces durable and safe dog toys for older and younger pups. The toys are nearly indestructible, and the brand offers a safety guarantee – if your dog chews through a toy, the company will replace it!

Help your pup develop social skills

Any dog owner will tell you that training your dog is a challenge. Teaching them to eat at certain times, not to use the carpet as a bathroom, or to get along with other dogs is no easy feat. Training dogs takes time, patience, and compassion, meaning not everyone is cut out for the job.

Jane Marsh is an environmental writer passionate about pet care and health. To read more of her work, follow her site Environment.co.

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