Working with Bunker: Resource Guarding and the Insecure Mindset

Bunker, a 7 year old Border Collie, relaxing on Zen Zone

Meet Bunker 🐾

Bunker came to Alpine K9, located at The Farm Pet Retreat in St. Claude, MB, struggling with resource guarding, an insecure mindset, poor leash manners, occasional reactivity to people, and significant overstimulation. His nervous system was constantly on high alert, leaving him stuck in stress responses of fight and avoidance.

Originally booked for a 7-day stay, Bunker’s owners made the decision to extend his program to 14 days so he could continue his development and allow his nervous system the time it needed to truly reset.

When Bunker first arrived, he was very reserved and uncomfortable with attention and affection. When introduced to new skills, he often shut down rather than engage. This is not uncommon for insecure dogs—shutting down was his primary coping mechanism. On the surface, it can look like disobedience, but in reality, Bunker wasn’t refusing to learn—he was dysregulated.

Week 1

During the first week, Bunker learned foundational skills including Loose Leash Walking, Zen Zone, Structured Fetch, and began working toward neutrality around food. Resource guarding was still present, especially during meals, making it difficult for him to fully relax or trust that I wasn’t a threat around his food dish.

We noticed that raw food triggered stronger guarding responses than kibble. However, because raw is a balanced and appropriate diet for Bunker, we chose to work through the challenge rather than avoid it.

Owner Visit – Day 8

When Bunker’s owners visited on Day 8, they witnessed major improvements. His body language was softer, his responses to affection were calmer and more confident, and his happy-go-lucky personality finally had space to shine through.

Week 2

Week 2 focused on increasing play, strengthening attention to handler, improving focus on walks, and developing the ability to settle in distracting environments.

Midway through the week, Bunker stopped resource guarding altogether. He began relaxing around his food—small pupils, soft eyes, laying down calmly, and offering healthy eye contact. This was a huge milestone and incredible news for his family.

Go-Home Day

At Alpine K9, go-home sessions are broken into two parts to prevent burnout and support long-term retention:

• Session 1: Structure

• Session 2: Freedom

When Bunker’s owners arrived, he was loose in the training space. Instead of becoming over-excited, he remained calm and composed—clearly happy to see his family—and, of course, on cue, delivered his signature hug.

During the session, we practiced a structured feeding ritual and food-based training games to maintain progress around resource guarding. Like the gentleman he became in just 14 days, Bunker showed no guarding behaviors—even with raw food.

Wrap-Up

Bunker was an absolute joy to work with and an incredible teacher of canine behavior. I am forever a student of dogs, learning more with every individual who walks through the door and joins my pack.

We’re so proud of you, Bunker and family.