Some dogs are leery of strangers and others may be protective of their owner and home. It is important that you keep these things in mind when introducing your dog to someone new. This is a guide about introducing your dog to new people.
I have 2 labs that are inside children. Marley never meets a stranger. Macey, on the other hand, is a shy little girl. They have the big wire crates in our game room. So before someone comes in, I tell them to kennel up.
After the person sits down, I will let the girls out. Marley is not as prone to lick them to death. And Macey is not as scared to come in the living room and be social, after a few minutes of them talking to her.
By Debbie S. from McAdams, MS
How do I best get my dog to like others that come to visit us? He is very overprotective of us and will not settle down until they leave. This is beginning to cause us stress and to think way too much before we have company over.
He is 2 1/2 years old. He is on edge and becomes very pushy, insisting on attention and petting, non-stop. He pushes his weight around, literally and it can get on our company's last nerve. He will bark if we leave him in another room.
By patricia27 from OH
By frugalsunnie
01/14/2012
I've had dogs like yours and yes, it can make the company very uncomfortable.
He won't like it, but the very best thing to do is to snap the lead on every time you have a guest. You will then be in control-he won't like it, so let him greet the guests, get a bit of a fuss, and then make him sit at your side during the visit. Do this whenever you have company, regular visitors and the new guest so that he understands that whenever there is any sort of company, he is expected to show company manners.
Whenever he tries to use his body weight (or whines and barks) to regain his position of control, restrain him at your side by returning him to the sitting position with your hand, and holding him there if needed.
You may have to enlist several different and patient friends to role-play several times to get him through the initial, difficult change to his routine of being in charge when company is around.
Using treats and praise to reward him for even a few seconds of 'sit-stay' is going to be a big help readjusting his manners, too.
Be patient, this method does work on 99% of dogs.
You might consider using a crate if it doesn't; you put him in his crate before opening the door to company-he'll fuss and whine and carry on, though, even if the crate is in the same room as the company.
Or you can crate him after trying to keep him well mannered with the leash. Have the crate in the same room as you are entertaining company, and speak to him now and again so that he understands he is not being totally excluded, just restrained from being too physical with the company:)
Locking him in another room and letting him howl (and possibly destroy the 'containment' area in his unhappiness at being kept away from the guests) will be more painful for you and your company.
Does anyone else have an overly protective Saint Bernard or dog of similar size and power? And how do you deal? My Saint is between 1-2 years old and still growing at 130 pounds. We adopted him in December and he's been wonderful! He is very well mannered, pretty obedient, and has bonded well with the family.
I guess you can say too well! He does not allow visitors unless my bf is home and says it's OK. If he is outside when someone pulls into the yard I have to run and bring him in the house so he doesn't break his cable or collar trying to keep them away. He's never been aggressive or harmful, but he intimidates by barking in your face and I don't know that he won't do something more with a wrong movement. Any suggestions?
I considered professional help, I just worry he won't let them close and since he weighs as much as me I don't feel that I can anchor him should he decide to freak out.
By Carebare from Houghton County, MI
By boney383
03/16/2012
Prong collars are useless, and you are right; in the wrong hand very destructive and abusive. Can't find a halter big enough. Walking him and controlling him isn't the huge struggle. Trying to get him to understand that it is not ok to lunge and bark at people is the issue.
What happens after that point I haven't chanced to find out. He is very respectful overall (to his family). He is still growing and eventually will completely over power me without a doubt, we been working manners of no paw, no pull, no bark, and no pushing, all is going well. And when my bf is around new people are welcomed with a happy tail and nudges.
When I'm alone is the issue and I cannot rely on my bf to walk him, he is out of town 5 weeks of the summer for racing; not mention 2 full time jobs. So either way I have no choice but to work with what I have. Or re-home him for caring to much about his owner. That's ridiculous, and I would never give up on my teddy bear that easily.
He's my buddy, listens to me, snuggles, kisses me, Loves my son, and I cant unlove him for protecting me. But I do need to find a way for him to at least deal with people being around me. Even if he just sits there crabby, that'd be fine. Lunging and barking has got to stop.
I've been working with dogs since I was 7. I've dealt with the abused, fear biters, feral dogs, behavior issues from separation anxiety to potty training and chewing, unruliness. Aggression and protectiveness is the one thing I've never dealt with.
I'm not looking for criticism on ''need to change how I am with'' when you don't see the work I put into him, and all the love and praise he gets for his good deeds through out the day. I'm looking for advise on how to socialize him safely and teach him the world is not out to hurt me. I'm open for ideas and will try anything that I haven't tried yet if I can find the tools to fit, and I'm not putting someone in harms way. I know where I went wrong.
I rarely have company, he knows this and freaks when it happens. Being 20 minutes into the middle of nowhere we don't see a lot of people, and I had to work with manners before I could bring him anywhere to socialize him, getting dragged thru town wasn't appealing.
We're past that for the most part and the ice is gone so I have gripes again. Thank you to those who gave me some helpful advice and I am working on some ideas and gonna make a halti to fit:)
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