Expert shares controversial test to see if a dog is dangerous or adoptable

Canine behaviourist Gia Savocchi, from New York, US, has sparked a debate online after posting a video revealing how she uses a bowl of food and a fake hand to determine if an animal is ‘dangerous or adoptable’

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TikTok user shares test to see if dog is dangerous

A canine expert has caused controversy online after revealing the simple test she uses to determine if a dog is “adoptable”. Animal behaviourist Gia Savocchi posted a viral video to TikTok which demonstrated her using a bowl of food and extendable fake hand to “show the difference between a dangerous dog and a safe dog”.

The clip begins with the dangerous dog eating his food whilst Gia uses the plastic hand to pet him – then as she goes to grab the bowl, the animal aggressively bites the stick. In comparison, the adoptable dog seems unfazed when she tries to take the food away, and gently steps back.

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In the footage, Gia explains that the dangerous dog would likely “cause severe damage in the home” so “failed his day to day guarding assessment” and would not be classed as adoptable.

“In real life, people will try to take things from their dogs,” she continued. “So it’s important that we know that if somebody tries to take something from a dog, it may growl, it may snap. But it shouldn’t really injure them.”

The TikTok clip on @thinkingcanine has racked up more than 35,000 views with users expressing their reservations about the dangerous dog in the comments.

“It would be a HUGE liability to adopt out the first dog. Even into a home with a experienced owner. Accidents happen… imagine a child reaching for it,” one person said.

“Even with the first dog you can see how hard he’s eyeing you when you’re a couple of feet away,” a second commented.

Though many people believed the test wasn’t “fair” and didn’t determine if a dog was adoptable – just that it needed extra training.

“I think ALL dogs are adoptable, but some need people with more experience than others. Coming from an owner that has a dog with resource guarding,” someone wrote.

“Resource guarding is a problem that can be easily worked on in a short time. Just be honest with adopters,” another agreed.

What is resource guarding?

Rhiannon, a canine behaviourist at Battersea, describes resource guarding as: “When a dog becomes defensive in order to keep you away from a particular item or ‘resource’ that they treasure.

“The resource can be food, treats, toys, a place, like a bed or favourite chair, or occasionally even a person.

“Resource guarding is a natural behaviour for your dog, and an important survival strategy as a scavenger in the wild, but at home there are some things we can do to reassure our dogs and let them know they don’t need to become defensive.”

How can I prevent resource guarding?

Prevention is always better than cure, so it’s a good idea to train your dog before resource guarding even begins.

Rhiannon explains: “To start, you will need some treats. The trick is to teach your dog that a person approaching is a positive thing. As your dog is finishing a meal, approach close to where they are eating, drop some treats near to their food bowl and calmly move away.

“Allow your dog to eat the treats and then return to finishing what is in their bowl. Repeat this a couple of times over a few days, always moving away and allowing your dog to eat the treats.

“Over time you may see that as you approach your dog, they look up as they anticipate a treat arriving. This is a positive sign that they see you approaching as a good thing.

“Approaching and rewarding will show your dog that someone coming close to them is a positive thing.”

How do I stop resource guarding?

If your dog is already showing some signs of resource guarding behaviour, it’s important to stop this from becoming any worse. Rhiannon advised the following:

1. Make sure all family members and everyone who visits knows never to approach or interrupt your dog if they are eating or have a chew.
2. As best as possible, hide or remove any items that your dog may steal and guard so that you do not have to confront your dog. If you do have to remove something from them, make sure it’s an exchange rather than just taking something away.
3. It is important that you never punish or tell your dog off for resource guarding as this will add more stress to the situation and may cause their behaviour to worsen.
4. When you are trying to exchange items with your dog, put down some food or treats a good distance away so that your dog has to move. This will give you the time and distance to safely pick up the item. If you can wait to remove the item until the dog is in a different room entirely, that’s even better.
5. Another helpful tip is to teach your dog the ‘leave it’ cue. This will allow you to ask your dog to leave whatever they are guarding in a safe and positive way.
6. Remember every dog is different with their resource guarding, and if your dog has bitten or is causing you concern then we would recommend contacting a certified behaviourist to help.

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