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When you’ve taken your dog for a quick stroll in the evening and you see a loud and slightly intimidating group across the road, having your protective dog at your side can certainly put you at ease. As soon as someone comes within 10 feet of you he starts to growl and stares menacingly. He’s also the same when someone comes to the door. The postman must dread having to approach the steps, knowing there’s a fierce guard dog on the other side of the door.
While this protective nature can come in handy at times, it also prevents you being able to embrace friends and family. If you can train your dog to stop being so protective you’ll no longer be known as the ‘neighbor with the terrifying dog.’ You also won’t have to worry about him going too far one day and biting somebody.
Training will be a gradual process where you socialize your dog with other people and pets. You’ll need to gradually bring his guard down and show him that it isn’t his responsibility to protect you. You will need to alter his position in the perceived pack so he won’t always leap to your defense. If he’s a puppy and the protective nature is only a recent development, then it may take just a couple of weeks to tackle. If this protective aggression has been going on for years, you may need up to 6 weeks to stamp it out entirely.
Getting this training right is essential if you want to avoid an accident one day. All it takes is a one-off when somebody accidentally gets too close and your dog bites them in a panic. That could result in serious injury or even a court order to have him put down.
Before you can get going, you’ll need to gather a few things. A secure leash and a body harness will be needed to ensure you retain control and to reduce strain on your dog's neck.
Your furry companion's favorite food or some tasty treats he cannot resist will also play a vital role. These will be used to motivate and reward him throughout training. You’ll also need to set aside 10 minutes each day for training in a quiet space, away from distractions.
Once you’ve got all of that, you’re ready to get to work!
The Gradual Introduction Method
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Most Recommended
4 Votes
Approach slowly
When your canine companion is about to meet a new person or pet, approach them very slowly. Keep him on a leash, securely at your side.
Reward
As you approach the new person or pet, quietly praise him for as long as he remains calm. You can even give him the odd treat to reinforce that this is the behavior you want to see.
React promptly
As soon as he does start to display signs of aggression, turn around and pull him away. Walk away from the person or pet until he has fully calmed down. Once he has, you can turn back around and slowly approach again. It may take several attempts before you can get within 10 feet.
Stop within 10 feet
At 10 feet, you need to calm the storm again. Have him ‘sit’ or ‘drop’ and then instruct him to ‘wait.’ You then need to position yourself in between him and the strangers to show him you are pack leader, and therefore it is you that is responsible for protecting him and not the other way round.
Be consistent
You need to use these steps whenever you approach new people and animals over the next few weeks. Each slip up you have will set back the end result. So take it slow, retain control and reinforce calm behavior constantly.
The Perception Method
Effective
5 Votes
Effective
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Secure the leash
Whenever anybody comes to the house or an unknown person approaches, have your dog securely on a leash. Also, ensure you are in front of him. If he is between you and the approaching person, he will feel like leader of the pack and responsible for protecting you.
Be confident
Dogs mirror their owners' behavior and pick up on their emotions. If he can sense you are worried (probably about his reaction) then he’ll be more likely to panic himself and get aggressive. So be calm, confident, and assertive and it will put him at ease.
Always react
If he does start to bark or show any signs of aggression, quickly shout "NO". Don’t terrify your dog, but make sure he knows you mean business. At the same time, give the leash a quick pull to reinforce the point.
Practice obedience commands
Teach your dog to ‘sit’, ‘roll over’ and any number of other things. This training will help cement your position as the pack leader and will give you the best chance of retaining control in testing situations.
Show him you are leader
Make your dog wait for his food, make him wait a minute before you take him out for a walk. By doing this, you’re showing him who is in control. If he knows you’re always in control he won’t feel the need to be protective over you in the first place.
The Crack Down Method
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Least Recommended
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Stop over indulging
If your dog gets unlimited attention and doesn’t have to abide by any rules, then curbing his aggression will always be a challenge. Set rules to assert your position as the pack leader. It could be no climbing on furniture, only going to the toilet in specific places, etc.
Exercise
It may sound crazy, but a lot of aggression stems from built up energy. Give your dog an extra walk each day or walk him for longer. If this isn’t possible, play fetch during the walk--the constant short sprints will tire him out. If he’s knackered, he won’t have the energy to defend you from everyone you meet each day.
Desensitize
If your dog is going to meet a new person or pet for the first time, introduce them carefully. Keep him at a distance and show your dog that he’s got nothing to worry about by being calm and confident around that person.
Avoid his territory
It will also help to meet new people and pets outside of his territory to start with. If they come into the room where his bed is he will feel like he needs to defend you in his area. Instead, meet people outside or in a room he’s less familiar with.
Never punish him
If your dog does show aggression, don’t punish him. Doing this will only scare him more, increasing the chances of him being aggressive the next time. Instead, calmly remove him from the situation. Don’t give his aggressive behavior any attention.
Written by James Barra
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 11/07/2017, edited: 01/08/2021
Training Questions and Answers
he is fine with people, children as long as nobody tries to cuddle or touch in any way. he has bitten my 3 year old nephew because he climbed onto his mams knee while we sat around the dinning table. he has also bitten my partner on say when he came next to me and cody was on my knee. what should i do?
Oct. 17, 2022
Cody's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, It sounds like pup is being possessive of you and family, which may or may not involve protectiveness also. The difference in protection and possessiveness is that protection often involves a real threat and pup instinctually trying to keep someone they see as vulnerable safe. With possessiveness, the person pup is reacting toward can be someone who hasn't acted like a threat, but their mere presence being too close to the person pup is possessive of, will trigger the aggression. Possessiveness is a form of resource guarding, where pup is acting like they own the person they are guarding. It's generally related to a lack of respect for the one they are possessive of, and sometimes also a lack of trust for the person they are aggressive toward. Pup may lack socialization with kids too, which can increase their suspiciousness toward them. Since this involves both you and your partner, I suggest you both work on building pup's respect for you. I also recommend introducing pup to wearing a basket muzzle and temporarily having pup wear a basket muzzle and drag leash while you are both home, so that when pup behaves aggressively, you can calmly pick up the end of the leash and make pup leave the room. This should be done with a calm and confident attitude - when you tell pup to do something, you mean what you say, but you are calm when enforcing it. No body should react angrily, or by petting and soothing pup - angry can encourage a defensive fear response, and petting and soothing pup when they behave that way rewards the aggressive behavior - simply pick up the end of the leash and lead pup out of the room, calmly telling pup "Ah Ah" firmly, and keep them from returning until they are willing to do a couple commands like Sit and Down and return with your permission. Don't allow pup to be pushy at other times either with you. No standing on laps, climbing onto you uninvited, nudging or barking for attention or food, ect... Anytime pup wants something, even petting, command pup to do something like Down first before giving it to them - have them work for everything they get right now. Follow the Working and Consistency methods for more details on how to implement that. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you Commands that are good for respect building - Out, Leave It and Off are especially important for giving pup directions right now. Place, Down and Heel are especially good for respect building. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite Place command: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Down-Stay: https://www.thelabradorsite.com/train-your-labrador-to-lie-down-and-stay/ Heel- Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Off- section on The Off command: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-train-dog-stay-off-couch/ If this tends to happen on the bed or couch, pup also looses bed and couch privileges right now. Pup should sleep in another room or crate until pup no longer acts possessive at all. To introduce the muzzle, first place it on the ground and sprinkle pup's meal kibble around it. Do this until pup is comfortable eating around it. Next, when pup is comfortable with it being on the floor with food, hold it up and reward pup with a piece of kibble every time they touch or sniff it in your hand. Feed pup their whole meal this way. Practice this until pup is comfortable touching it. Next, hold a treat inside of it through the muzzle's holes, so that pup has to poke their face into it to get the treat. As they get comfortable doing that, gradually hold the treat further down into the muzzle, so that they have to poke their face all the way into the muzzle to get the treat. Practice until they are comfortable having their face in it. Next, feed several treats in a row through the muzzle's holes while pup holds their face in the muzzle for longer. Practice this until pup can hold their face in it for at least ten seconds while being fed treats. Next, when they can hold their face in the muzzle for ten seconds while remaining calm, while their face is in the muzzle, move the muzzle's buckles together briefly, then feed them a treat through the muzzle. Practice this until pup is not bothered by the buckles moving back and forth. Next, while pup is wearing the muzzle buckle it and unbuckle it briefly, then feed a treat. As they get comfortable with this step, gradually keep the muzzle buckled for longer and longer while feeding treats through the muzzle occasionally. Next, gradually increase how long they wear the muzzle for and decrease how often you give pup a treat, until they can calmly wear the muzzle for at least an hour without receiving treats more than two treats during that hour. Muzzle introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw&list=PLXtcKXk-QWojGYcl1NCg5UA5geEnmpx4a&index=6&t=0s Finally, pup's trust with your partner and those pup shows aggression toward needs to also be addressed. With safety measures in place, like a back tie leash or the muzzle, your partner can practice things like tossing pup a treat while they are being calm whenever he enters the room where pup is or he changes his position (sitting to standing, lying down, standing to sitting, walking out of the room, ect...). Once pup anticipates his arrival as something good, he can practice talking to pup and gentle eye contact and tossing pup a treat each time they respond calmly or behaves friendly toward him. Be sure to have him give pup their space while this though and have pup on a back tie leash in case they suddenly lunge. Then you can practice things like tossing pup treats whenever your partner touches you and pup stays calm and relaxed. Starting with gentle touches like a hand hold, and gradually working up to touches pup finds more "suspicious," like side hugs, front hugs, kisses, or him picking you up. Next, he can toss treats whenever pup obeys his command (which you have taught pup already for him), such as Sit, starting to get pup to work for him. Structured heeling walks are also a good way for him to build trust with pup, to build pup's working relationship with him, so pup doesn't just tolerate him but actually wants to work with him. Again, all of this needs to be done carefully, gradually, and with the proper safety measures in place to avoid the possibility of a bite along the way. A calm, confident and consistent attitude is also the best way to earn a dog's respect and trust. Avoid acting angry and harsh with pup, or acting sorry and "babying" pup. Model calm confidence for pup, and firm boundaries. If things don't improve, they get worse, you are worried about a bite (the muzzle is important here), or you feel overwhelmed, I would not hesitate to hire a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues and will come to your home, to help you in person with this. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 17, 2022
Gena guards the house to the extent she won’t let anybody in,if she does she’s very aggressive and has bitten someone today.We have tries all sorts to overcome this,please help.
Oct. 14, 2022
Gena's Owner
Caitlin Crittenden - Dog Trainer
1128 Dog owners recommended
Hello, For aggression this severe you need to work with a trainer in person who specializes in aggression. I would also desensitize her to wearing a basket muzzle for everyone's safety. Is she guarding the home and will not let you and those who live there in? Or just guarding it from people outside those who live in the home? Are you stuck outside your home right now or at other times? Check out this trainer. I don't know where you are location but they offer remote training and board and train, and may know of trainers in your area who specialize in aggression also potentially. https://www.solidk9training.com/ I would have the muzzle be a standard piece of equipment for her so that you are able to train safely again. Basket muzzles are muzzles that will allow the dog to open their mouth still while wearing, so they can learn to drink with it on, be given treats passed through the muzzle holes carefully - like a straw dipped in liver past, and they are more comfortable for the dog. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
Oct. 14, 2022