Mild resource guarding is extremely common among newly arrived foster dogs. The first sign is that the dog hunches over his prized possession, lowering his head and forequarters to the ground as if protecting its guarded object with his own body. He may give an approaching interloper a sidelong glance without moving his head, showing the whites of his eyes in a phenomenon dubbed "whale eye" by Sue Sternberg. If tested further, he may growl, snap, or even bite seriously.

Mild resource guarding is not uncommon among newly arrived foster dogs. It most commonly manifests over a high-value chew, food bowl, or favorite toy, although some dogs also exhibit it around doorways, thresholds, sleeping places, and proximity to the owner. Dogs may guard against other dogs or against humans. The classic pattern is that the dog hunches over his prized possession, lowering his head and forequarters to the ground as if protecting its guarded object with his own body. He may give an approaching interloper a sidelong glance without moving his head, showing the whites of his eyes in a phenomenon dubbed "whale eye" by Sue Sternberg. If tested further, he may growl, snap, or even bite.