Published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, this study applies functional analysis (FA)—a cornerstone method in human behavior therapy—to identify the maintaining variables of resource guarding in a domestic dog. Despite the prevalence of food guarding in pet dogs, few studies have systematically applied behavior-analytic assessment methods to uncover its functional causes.
The researchers conducted a modified FA within the dog’s home environment, evaluating four conditions: control, attention, escape, and tangible. The results revealed that the dog’s guarding behavior was multiply controlled, maintained by escape from human approach, access to attention, and access to valued items.
Based on these findings, the team implemented three function-based operant treatments using a concurrent multiple baseline design. Across all targeted functions, the dog’s guarding behavior decreased to zero levels. Importantly, the treatment effects generalized across contexts and individuals: the dog maintained improved behavior when interacting with its owner, an untrained handler, and when presented with a highly preferred treat. The behavior change also persisted in an untrained environment and was still observed two weeks post-treatment without additional training.
These results highlight the effectiveness of behavior-analytic interventions in treating canine problem behavior. By identifying the functional contingencies sustaining food guarding, the authors successfully designed targeted treatments that produced robust, durable, and generalizable behavior change.
The study’s authors conclude that FA-based approaches hold strong promise for addressing not only resource guarding but also a wider range of canine behavioral disorders. They recommend further research in diverse dog populations and behavior contexts to expand the applicability of these methods.
Source: Mehrkam, L., Perez, B. C., Self, V. N., Vollmer, T., & Dorey, N. (2020). Functional analysis and operant treatment of food guarding in a pet dog. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Published May 10, 2020.
