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Old October 5th, 2005, 08:01 AM
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db7 db7 is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 474
It is normal for the dog to guard. The problem lies with your relationship with the dog. The dog thinks it is in charge so it is doing what it can to act like the boss while not being very confident with strangers.

You need to train the dog that you are the boss. That it is ok to alert you of a potential threat but that YOU are the one to decide if it is a threat or not and that you decide the response. You need to teach the dog to defer to you.

You do this through obedience training primarily.

Putting the dog on a leash in the house when strangers enter will help. Don't get anxious, tense, or scold the dog when it happens. Be happy and try to get the dog to play or to do some basic obedience commands before and during the entrance of the stranger. The dog can't be focussed on you and the stranger at the same time.

Try to avoid the situation until you get greater control. Everytime it happens it reinforces the behaviour in the dog. Stranger/threat comes-dog has melt down- dog doesn't get hurt by stranger/threat - stranger/threat goes away - dog thinks it did the right thing - dog repeats.
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