© 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. The treat needs to come from your friend so that Bailey will learn to trust him. Once she is done barking she will have no problem with the guests petting her or being affectionate towards her. Practice that without your other dog around at first, then add your other dog back once she can stay calm around other dogs without your dog there - and practice with both dogs together again. If they sit, he will be quiet, but if they start moving, he will try to jump on them. When rewarding with a treat for sitting, either drop the treat on the ground or feed it under his chin - if you hold it above his head he will jump. Check out Thomas from the Canine Educator on YouTube, look for someone who trains like that and is very experienced with aggression. Repeating the same things over and over and waiting until pup calms down before rewarding can make those events more boring and help desensitize pup and teach calmness. She will start to feel entitled to your attention, and that’s part of the problem. It is far easier to deal with reactivity when you interrupt a dog early in the process - before they are highly aroused and full of adrenaline and cortisol, and to keep the dog in a less aroused/calmer state to begin with. You are essentially telling him "No not that; do this instead". If he’s excited for dinner, make him sit and leave it before digging in. It will take time and patience for your dog to learn this skill, like everything with dog training, there is no quick fix. I have to hold him because he seems so aggressive. If your dog is afraid, you don’t want to make things worse. There are a few ways to do this. Practice this until she can hold his face in it for at least ten seconds while being fed treats. Then, bring your dog into the room where the visitors are and have them give the dog those goodies. You won’t be able to solve your dog’s overprotective behavior in one day. Using a … Trouble when visitors arrive is a common concern of many guardians. Code red, code red!”) I’m all for avoiding this challenging situation whenever possible. Hello,My puppy Clark (chihuahua mix) barks continuously at visitors, essentially never stopping unless they are perfectly still. Have someone else feed the dog a few times a week, and encourage other people to engage her in playtime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. Practice with willing friends often until pup initially responds calmly the whole time. I highly recommend hiring a professional trainer to help with this. You’ll need a short-term strategy to start showing your overprotective dog what behavior is unacceptable while also keeping your guests safe. What training method would be best for him? You can still invite guests into your home as long as you prioritize managing your dog’s behavior. Check out the articles and videos linked below. When pup is doing well, guests who want to interact can give pup commands are reward pup with a treat, calm praise, or a short pet for being mannerly - like sitting, down, ect... To set the expectation that pup has to be mannerly to get their attention. Best of luck training, She was a bit on the timid side when it comes to encountering men. Make Your Dog Work for Affection Leash and Step Toward methods: Bella is a five-year-old Long Haired Dachshund who’s guardian’s recently moved to Encino. Do this at times she is not around other non-family dogs so that the muzzle isn't just associated with the other dogs, but just another piece of equipment like a harness or leash she gets used to wearing. To avoid that situation takes some planning ahead. Socialize As he improves, very gradually decrease the distance between you and the other people. It's annoying and embarrassing. Do you have any suggestions?Thank you! In the meantime, you don’t want to put your life on hold. If he stays in his spot, reward him with a treat and praise. These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. Place: Place: They call to tell me that their dogs are aggressive towards visitors by barking and lunging, growling, or even biting visitors. Take socialization at the pace she’s comfortable with. Have the neighbor or family member stand outside the front door and ring the bell or knock on it. Hello, you are right to take care of this now. Place command: Dog Training Do’s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-w28C2g68M Treats and commands like sit and lay down only work for seconds at a time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw&list=PLXtcKXk-QWojGYcl1NCg5UA5geEnmpx4a&index=6&t=0s Of course, if he barks before your neighbor rings or knocks, you can do the same thing. As long as you keep working toward stopping the behavior, separating an overprotective dog from company is a temporary management solution. Quiet: Find a treat your dog simply cannot resist, think pieces of cheese, doggy treats, liverwurst, anything your dog... 2. How can I get this under control and not have guests scared to get out of their car? Leash: Keeping your dog on a leash while friends are visiting gives you control over your dog’s actions. But when the guest gets up and walks anywhere in the house, Jerome will run up to them and bark and jump on them again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Dogs are bound to bark, but excessive dog barking can become an annoying problem. Dogs can also have "leash aggression," which occurs when they're on walks and may include lunging, pulling, and barking, mostly at other dogs.. remain quiet. First, I suggest working on building his calmness and respect for you and your family. Make Your Dog Work for Affection Also, please look at the Establish Leadership Method here: https://wagwalking.com/training/not-attack-strangers. A vicious circle quickly develops as the dog… Hello Renee, He will likely bark for quite a while. The trainer in many of the videos above also has other videos on fear aggression and reactivity. Just being consistent about enforcing rules calmly and teaching her mind. Having visitors show up at the door is a very intense situation for a fearful dog. In the meantime, you don’t want to put your life on hold. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. He needs to practice these things regularly with one or two guests at a time time instead of only every once in a while - if you do not have frequent guests willing to help, then I suggest hiring a trainer who has staff and works with other trainers who can work with him as "guests" and rotate our the new people to expose him to different people. If he starts to bark at the noise, ignore him too. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. Lastly, take a look here for videos that may help: https://robertcabral.com/. Don't let him stop and pee on every tree though. Quiet method for also teaching the Quiet command: If he doesn't immediately stop and stay quiet and on the ground (not jumping), then use a pet convincer - which is a small can of unscented pressurized air (NOT citronella), sprayed at his back or side (not face) when he tries to jump or starts barking, then have him go to Place or Down and you or guests can give a treat calmly when he is totally calm - wait until calmness, you are rewarding the calmness not just lying down. Socialization is best done during the puppy stages, but even adult and senior dogs benefit from new experiences. Put him in his crate in a back room away from the noise and confusion. Make sure each new experience is positive, and encourage your dog without forcing her to interact. She then starts barking again when they leave. I’ve even had clients briefly put their dog in the car in the garage if that is where the dog is most comfortable when not with his guardians. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden. Work up to him being able to stay on Place for 1-2 hours to build calmness especially. A friendly wag looks relaxed and loose with relaxed body language overall. I suggest desensitizing her to wearing a basket muzzle. Many of them try and bark repeatedly at what makes them uncomfortable in the hope that their noise will make the fear inducing stimulus go away. Comprehensive programs for improving a dog’s emotional state and behavior when visitors arrive must be individually designed for each dog and each situation. When out walking, if Minnie sees another dog, she gets excited and attacks my other dog. Involve Other People in the Dog’s Life You ignore everything else. Heel Video: Hey, i adopted my boy nearly a year ago, i am a hairdresser who works from home, he has picked up a habit of barking constantly at me whilst i am working! A mistake many pup parents make is stopping obedience training once their dog masters the basics skills. In her own home she is more likely to act possessive because she views it as her territory. I know you don't want to hire a trainer but one hour of personal training can go a long way to giving you the needed knowledge to help Charlie behave. A stiff wag is also a bad sign. Check out the video linked below to learn how to desensitize him to people and things related to people coming over. Choose a basket muzzle so that pup can eat treats through the muzzle's holes and be more comfortable. You can’t help but smother your dog with love every time she’s within petting distance, but that isn’t always what’s best for her. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark It’s a lot easier for a dog to see people already seated in the living room or around the table than it is for the dog to see people arrive and enter. Now we are in a hotel with 2 other people, our house was flooded and is under repair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Have a neighbor or a friend ring the bell. I would also pay attention to pup's overall body language and behavior. Best of luck training, Heel Video: Both her respect for you and the fear of new people need to be addressed. I have to insure her that everything is ok and my guest as well. Choose a "go to" spot where your pup will be required to go when the doorbell rings or someone knocks on the door. Teach him the "Touch" command and once he is more relaxed around a person (after they have done treats tosses with him) have them calmly practice "Touch" with him with treats. Repeat this process using several people ringing the bell or knocking on the door. This is an important behavior that can be taught to any dog Be picky about who and how she meets other dogs. It’s usually the same person who fills their food bowls, takes them on walks, and handles training. I understand it’s normal for her to initially bark however how do we get her to stop barking and calm down. If pup is nervous about the new roommates, check out the section on shy dogs and humans from the article below. If your dog becomes used to people in your home but still reacts badly to people outside, then have your friend meet you in a public place, so that your dog thinks your friend, who he has never met, is a stranger. Crate manners: Leading the walk this way can actually boost a dog's confidence in the long run around other dogs because the dog feels like you will handle the situation so they can relax. Thank you for your help! You’ll need a short-term strategy to start showing your overprotective dog what behavior is unacceptable while also keeping your guests safe. We've tried having the guest ignore him, he will get close and smell they're shoes, or pants, but as soon as they move, even a finger, he gets scared and runs. And sometimes the behaviors get worse before they get better. Hopefully, you can tell your visitors to call or text right before coming in so that you can make sure you have the situation set up to maximize your chances of success. There are a few ways to do this. Even practice this around children, once your dog is doing better with people in general, but be extremely careful around kids, and make sure that the child is very comfortable with all dogs and not frightened by Buster's barking. He’ll start seeing you as a capable leader and will turn to you for guidance. He will start to feel entitled to your attention, and that’s part of the problem. The idea is not to fill up his stomach, but to reward him for getting it right. Aggressive dog - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiKVc4ZZWo Placing in his crate doesn’t seem to calm him down either. Training your dog to be quiet and calm when the doorbell rings is very doable, but it can take weeks of consistent training sessions. Work up to her being able to stay on Place for 1-2 hours. And how can I get him to be more relaxed when people come over? As she gets comfortable with this step, gradually keep the muzzle buckled for longer and longer while feeding treats through the muzzle occasionally. Keep repeating this, until your dog is only a couple of feet out of reach from your friend. Hello Barbara, Muzzle introduction video: Thresholds: Simply wait for him to take a break for a couple of seconds. If your overprotective dog is in the beginning stages of training, keeping her separated from guests might be best. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. There are two routes you can take for this, the first route is best for dogs that are reacting due to anxiety and feeling suspicious of guests, the second is better for dogs that are being pushy, rude, and overly excited, or controlling. Leash: Keeping your dog on a leash while friends are visiting gives you control over your dog’s actions. I want him to be OK with people coming to my house if I tell him "it's OK".I had my niece spend the week, and it took him 2 days to even let him touch him while he walked by. You want pup to stay on Place because of obedience through training and not just because he is forced - the leash is just to keep guests safe while practicing. This can be his bed, a specific spot on the carpet, or another room. Hello Paulina, Giving Your Dog a Time Out is Okay. When guests do come inside, instruct them to ignore him for about ten minutes while you reward him if he behaves calmly and quietly - associating guests with boredom and calmness can also help remove some of the anxiety/excitement combination associated with new people. He just barks, barks, and barks, while he's shaking. If pup is anxious, working on regular obedience training, trick training, things like structured heeling, agility obstacles with treats, and keeping consistent boundaries and routines can all help pup feel more secure. The walk should start with her having to exit your home very calmly, performing obedience commands at the door if she isn't calm. Primarily unfamiliar females. Is there any way we can stop him from being so territorial without having to hire a trainer? In essence, your pup is quite sure in his mind that barking like this is his job and he is proud of being able to do it well. Check out the video linked below and the video channel linked below that for further resources. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw Desensitizing process: Covid makes it hard to bring in a trainer or friends to help with the situation. But, with the help of a friend or two, and a handful of treats, and a little patience you can help ease your dog’s fear of household visitors or even the mail carrier. With the family expecting a pair of boys soon, they set up a dog behavior training session to help Bella learn to stop barking and stop nipping strangers. When you practice around children, use a leash and have your dog wear a collar or harness that he cannot slip out of. If your dog barks every time there is a knock at your door, they will usually be … Ruby excessively barks and charges at house guests. I think he is start ing to become food and toy aggressive. Although alarm barking can sometimes be aggravating for dog owners, neighbors, and visitors, lunging and biting are far more serious problems. Hello there. When pup can handle staying calm while they approach, have the friends give pup commands and have pup earn the rewards - like sit, down, ect... Involve Other People in the Dog’s Life I think that is because he has known them most of his life so he recognizes them. Work on both of those with Koda as techniques to deal with the barking. When you yell at your dog to stop barking, he may think you're joining the bark-fest and bark even louder. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. As she gets comfortable doing that, gradually hold the treat further down into the muzzle, so that she has to poke his face all the way into the muzzle to get the treat. The Verbal Command Method here: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-not-bark and the Quiet Method here are essentially the same idea: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark. I suggest teaching her the Quiet command, and desensitizing her to the entire process leading up to guests visiting as well. That position decreases her arousal, reduces stress because she isn't the one in charge and the one encountering things first. If he does, be sure to praise him and reward him. Make her sit, stay calm, and do whatever else you ask before doling out whatever it is she wants. Outside of the house, like on walks or at the store, she loves going up to everyone she sees. These behaviors have just started. Make Your Dog Work for Affection That’s a very brief and simplified description of what can often be a long and detailed process. I have never experienced something like this. Leash him up before the doorbell rings and keep him close as you greet your guests. Commit to training your dog several times a day for short periods of time. Desensitize to people before they enter your home to teach him to like them better and start things off calmly, then use the Quiet command for any further barking, and the Step toward method for any jumping. Only reward calmness and good responses - catching pup calm before he begins barking is super important - opposed to once he is already aroused. Cataract: Keeping Puppy Dog Eyes Clear and Bright, How to Help With Separation Anxiety in Dogs, 8 Things We Do That Really Confuse Our Dogs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. And sometimes the behaviors get worse before they get better. If your dog barks every time a visitor arrives, it will often mean that they are staking a claim on their territory. The sight, smell and sound of someone other than a family member appearing at the door and entering the home is a big deal to a dog who is not comfortable with new people. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. If your dog remains in his "go to" spot, be sure to reward him with lots of praise and plenty of treats, if not, go back and repeat the training until he no longer barks at the doorbell or knock, but instead goes directly to his spot and stays there quietly. If your dog gets overly excited when a guest is in your home, give him a time out. To remedy this, initiate a “work for it” program that allows you to show your dog affection as long as she earns your attention in appropriate ways. My dog has recently started snapping and nipping when being disciplined.