Resource control

Complex behaviour. The dog denies access to a resource, blocking his opponent with a stare, body posture and movements, grabbing and moving the object, at times with an increase in intensity and showing aggressive behaviours.
(Parker, 1974; Packer, 1979; Capra, 2010)

The Pyrenees Mountain Dog shows guarding and control behaviours towards the flock of sheep.

The Jack Russell Terrier uses a hard look to keep the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from grabbing the toy.

The Golden Retriever puppy moves towards the female Segugio Italiano (Italian hound) who is busy chewing on a bone. The hound controls access to the resource with threat displays, and the puppy stops and shifts his weight backwards while continuing to stare at the food.

The male Australian Shepherd stares and uses an offensive facial display towards the Malamute x Tervueren cross to control access to the Airedale Terrier bitch.

VIDEO

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During a competitive game, the young male Golden Retriever gallops opposite the male German Shepherd, raising his forelegs in a shoulder display and stopping in frontal position to control a resource: a piece of red plastic. When the German Shepherd orients toward him, the Golden Retriever displays a bow with front legs wide open, then lies down with the object between his paws, with head up and staring directly at the German Shepherd. The Shepherd approaches and rears up, and the Retriever rolls in front of the Shepherd, who moves away. The German Shepherd approaches in position T1, prancing with his forelegs bent and held high, and shows chin over; the Retriever turns his head toward his rival, and the Shepherd raises his head. The Retriever rolls in front of the Shepherd, and on top of the object. The Shepherd then approaches once again, and the Retriever shows an open-mouthed threat display, then glances at his owner, and gets up, re-orienting in a frontal stance with respect to the German Shepherd. The Golden Retriever bitch then interposes herself between the two males, displaying standing tall, and the Retriever shakes off, lies down again on the object, re-orients in a frontal stance and grabs the object in his teeth. He then rolls again. The Retriever's owner pats the female Golden Retriever, and the young dog approaches the bitch and displays anal-genital olfactory exploration before turning to block the German Shepherd with a galloping approach and bow with front legs wide open. The Shepherd lifts a front paw, and shows the intention of pushing or giving a paw jab, and then leaps forward with front legs wide open. The Golden Retriever bows over the object, lies down on it, displays bite-threatening, then position T2 with a jaw punch. The German Shepherd displays the intention to attack from the side, and the Golden Retriever turns to block him.

VIDEO

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In this interaction between two males, a young Golden Retriever climbs into the wading pool. When the second Golden Retriever approaches, the young male displays resource control, orienting to a frontal stance and displaying a hard look. In response to these signals, the second male moves away and attempts to enter the wading pool from a differrent point. The “resident” male again re-orients and shows a hard look. His opponent lowers his head, turns and leaves the interaction, licking his muzzle.

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