Key guides in this section
Start here: stealing and possessive habits
Protective behaviour in Cockers (what it means)
Related training hubs
Stealing and resource guarding are common problems in spaniels — especially with socks, tissues, kids’ toys, food, chews, and “found objects” on walks. Most spaniels steal because it’s rewarding (chasing games, attention, exciting objects) and guarding happens when a dog learns that humans approaching means their item might be taken away.
The good news: most cases can be improved dramatically with the right approach. The key is to stop turning it into conflict, prevent rehearsal, and teach safe, cooperative behaviours like drop, swap, and leave it.
This hub explains the difference between simple stealing and true guarding, what causes it, and how to fix it safely.
Important: stealing isn’t the same as guarding
These problems often overlap, but they’re not identical.
Stealing
Your spaniel grabs things because:
- it’s fun
- it gets attention
- it starts a chase
- the object feels good to carry/chew
- they’re bored or under-stimulated
Stealing is usually playful and opportunistic.
Resource guarding
Guarding is fear-based behaviour where the dog is thinking:
“I might lose this, so I need to protect it.”
Signs include:
- freezing over an item
- stiff body language
- hovering/covering the object
- whale eye (white of eye showing)
- growling, snarling, snapping
- taking items and hiding away
- eating faster when approached
Guarding can involve food bowls, chews, toys, stolen items, or even resting spaces.
If your dog has snapped or bitten, treat it as a safety issue and consider working with a qualified behaviourist.
Why spaniels steal things (common reasons)
Spaniels are often mouthy, curious, and easily reinforced by human reactions.
Common causes:
- attention and chasing (it becomes a game)
- high-value objects left accessible (laundry, kids’ toys)
- boredom or excess energy
- teething in young dogs
- lack of “drop” / “leave” training
- stress behaviours (stealing as displacement)
Most stealing improves fast once you change the reinforcement pattern.
Why resource guarding happens
Resource guarding is usually learned through experience.
Common causes:
- items being grabbed off the dog frequently
- punishment or scary reactions near food/toys
- dog being chased for stolen items
- insecurity or anxiety
- multiple dogs in the home (competition)
- genetic temperament (some dogs are more sensitive)
Guarding is a survival behaviour, not “dominance”.
Start here: the safest plan (do this in order)
Step 1: Stop chasing and grabbing
If your dog steals something:
✅ stay calm
✅ reduce movement
✅ don’t reach into the mouth
✅ don’t corner your dog
Chasing increases excitement and makes stealing more rewarding.
Step 2: Reduce access to stolen items (management)
You fix this faster if your dog can’t practise it 10 times a day.
Simple changes:
- keep laundry in a closed basket
- keep kids’ toys off the floor
- use baby gates to control rooms
- tidy up shoes at the door
- keep bins secured
Step 3: Teach “swap” (trade) as your default
This is the core skill that prevents guarding.
How to train swap:
- offer a low-value toy
- offer a high-value treat near the nose
- when the dog releases → say “swap”
- reward
- return the toy (important!)
Returning the item teaches:
“Letting go doesn’t mean losing forever.”
Step 4: Teach “drop” and “leave it”
These cues prevent stealing and reduce guarding risk.
- Leave it = don’t take it
- Drop = release what you already have
➡️ Training support: /spaniel-training/basic-commands/
Step 5: Build calmness and impulse control
Many stealing incidents come from arousal and “grabby” behaviour.
➡️ /spaniel-training/impulse-control/
➡️ /spaniel-behaviour/over-arousal/
What to do in real-life scenarios
If your dog steals socks
- stop chasing
- calmly get treats
- swap for food
- reward release
- remove the sock
- offer a chew/toy instead
If your dog steals food on walks
- prevent access with lead management
- practise “leave it” daily
- reward disengagement massively
- avoid high-risk areas temporarily
If your dog guards chews or the bowl
- stop approaching the dog during eating
- avoid taking chews away
- start cooperative “drop/swap” training
- teach that humans approaching = treats arrive
What NOT to do (this can make guarding worse)
Avoid:
- alpha-style “take it off them” methods
- pinning the dog
- shouting or punishment
- reaching into the dog’s mouth
- cornering your dog
- trying to “prove you’re boss”
These increase fear and increase bite risk.
Warning signs you should take seriously
If you see these signs, slow down and prioritise safety:
- growling when approached
- snapping or air-snapping
- stiff body blocking the item
- guarding around children
- guarding escalates over time
- multiple incidents across different resources
At that point, the best plan is often:
- management + safety
- cooperative trade training
- professional behaviour support if needed
Where to go next
If stealing is linked to a wider pattern, these will help:
- Mouthy destruction:
/spaniel-behaviour/chewing-destruction/ - Wired, grabby behaviour:
/spaniel-behaviour/over-arousal/ - Calmness training plan:
/spaniel-training/impulse-control/ - Practical manners training:
/spaniel-training/basic-commands/