Signs range from subtle (freezing, hard stare, lip curl) to overt (growling, snapping, biting). Resource guarding is a normal survival behavior in the wild but can be dangerous in a home, especially around children. Common triggers include food bowls, high-value chews, stolen items, and preferred resting locations. Traditional advice to 'take things away to show dominance' typically worsens guarding. Effective approaches include trading up (offering something better in exchange), teaching 'drop it' and 'leave it' with positive reinforcement, and feeding in a calm, low-traffic area. Preventing competition between multiple pets over resources also reduces incidents. Severe resource guarding should be addressed with a certified animal behaviorist.