Resource Guarding - How Much is Acceptable
Before I start, I know everyone says to avoid dog parks. there is a large non-fenced dog park near me that we go to and it's basically perfect. Although there are some rude-ish dogs, it being fully open in a city makes it so that dog owners have to pay attention and dogs generally have good recall.
How much resource guarding is acceptable? Specifically regarding a ball or a stick at the park? My dog will give several subtle signs before escalating (snapping at the air at them), but I usually let it go as the other dog is being rude. Like you wouldn't go up to a person and take their phone right out of their hand, right? I generally think dogs correcting other dogs is a good thing. When the snapping starts, that's usually when i intervene, but the interaction is usually over in like .5 seconds once she snaps at them.
Should I intervene earlier? Isn't it the other dogs fault for trying to steal someone else's item? If my dog doesn't correct them now and tell them that "hey, youre being rude don't do that again" couldn't they get hurt if they do that with the wrong dog?
I know no one is going to believe me, but my dog won't ever actually bite another dog. I've seen her be pushed by overbearing dogs, and no matter how annoyed she gets, she'll only snap at them.