How to stop my dog from guarding me and growling on the couch?

Question

My 10months old male cavalier is suddenly over protective of me. He growls and barks to my family approaching me on the couch. (I have my period and wonder if this is triggering his behavior) Idk what to do how to properly and effectively correct his behavior and insecurity. He might be in the other corner of the couch but when someone approaches he runs to my side and growls to them. Pet's info: Dog | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Male | unneutered | 10 months and 2 days old | 15 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there. It's common for some dogs to show this behavior as a form of resource guarding - he doesn't like people approaching you, because he sees you as a very valuable resource. Much like a special toy, or a chew item that he really likes :) It's likely that this behavior is starting to show up now because he's an adolescent, getting close to social maturity. To stop this, you want to teach Luca that good things happen when people approach you, so there's no need to bark or growl. I would recommend keeping a container of tasty dog treats handy whenever you're sitting on the couch. When someone starts to approach you, toss a treat onto the floor - this effectively gets Luca off the couch and away from you, which usually stops the guarding behavior, and also teaches him to associate people approaching with getting a reward. If the problem persists or gets worse, I would recommend getting in touch with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate him in person and help you put together a more detailed plan to work on his aggressive behavior. You can search for one in your area here, if needed: www.dacvb.org

How to stop my dog from guarding me and growling on the couch?

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