What do you do with a dog who growls at anyone who walks by?

Question

My dog has growled at everyone that gets near him ever since we got him and we cant get him to stop.

Answer 1

Why is he growling? Is he afraid of the people? Is he hostile? There are various reasons that dogs growl and the reason behind the growl dictates your response to it.

If it is a fear-based growl, you need to work on re-conditioning the dog so he learns that strangers aren't a threat, something he has to defend against. You do this by getting the dog to sit down next to you, slightly behind you, while you spend a few minutes talking to the person who has approached. Hand the person some tasty tidbits and have them feed them to the dog. Then, after the dog has eaten a few tidbits, he should be amenable to being petted.

If the dog is growling out of pure hostility, you need to consult a professional trainer and have them work with you on this issue, before it gets out of hand. You might pay a good trainer several hundred dollars, but this fee is much lower than a law suit that might result if your dog actually bites someone. AND you will have a reformed dog!

When the dog growls, for whatever reason, DON'T say, "It's ok" to the dog. Don't by your tone or body language or attitude show compassion or sympathy. His behavior ISN'T ok. Isn't acceptable.

Too many people perpetuate bad behavior on the part of their dog by stooping down, petting the dog on the head, treating them like a human child, telling the dog, "It's ok, Duke, this person is a friend, you don't have to growl/bark at him."

But 'Duke' doesn't hear 'this person is a friend', he only hears, 'It's ok'. Meaning the barking/growling is ok. So he keeps up the bad behavior and the owner can't understand why he doesn't listen to them!

Answer 2

Don't hit the dog! It sounds like it's doing a good job! Just make sure he doesn't get loose! Also put up a beware of Dog sign. So if you do go to court. You''ll have the sign as a leverage with the judge and/or jury. Also If you can take him walking around the block or at a dog park.Some where that is populated with people. Just have him use to being around people! But start small and carefully! Dogs can't stay tied all the time! Do you blame the dog to be mad!

Answer 3

First of all, when you are dealing with a serious behavior concern such as aggression towards people you need professional services. Use extreme caution trying a "technique" without proper guidance.

Dogs can have either resource guarding issues of their resting place and/or have personal space issues when they are resting. Without proper guidance you can make this situation much worst.

Most importantly is that you don't use "corrections" to stop the behavior that you see. They growling/showing teeth is a communication system - symptoms of an underlying emotional motivation. By correcting the symptoms - you can make a dog quicker to use aggression, teach them to become more like "time-bombs" with no tick. Visit: www.k9aggression.com for more useful information and insight.

A proper consultation is required to diagnose what elicits this behavior. Once you can identify the triggers for the behavior then you can use management and treatment to help to dog feel more comfortable around those situations and contexts.

Trainers:
www.iaabc.org
www.ccpdt.com
www.apdt.com
www.sfspca.org

My own dog has "personal space" issues especially while he is resting. He's had this since a young pup - this is a maladaptive form of aggression - I live with this condition - once you know what it's all about you can manage it and help reduce your dog's anxiety over proximity and social contact. It probably wont every be "fixed" or "cured" - highly genetic coding in his brain.

Please get good help.

Dr. Overall does long-distance consults - she works thru your vet. Patricia McConnell is also very good.
You can find their contact information at:
http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/caab-directory

Re: CM - the IAABC and SF/SPCA and other humane organizations are putting out warnings about CM's methods. You can either visit my website and read the Articles section or go to IAABC or SF/SPCA to read their concerns about him.
www.k9partnership.com

Best of luck

Answer 4

Are you leaving him fenced in the backyrd all the time, or tied up all the time. Many dogs get left outside and not socialized, by spending quality time w/ them, not just 5 min a day and then they get aggressive and people wonder why? Bring the dog inside, spend time w/ it. If you are fearful @ first put a muzzle on it so he doesn'tbite anyone. Hopefully as he gets used to being around people new people won't bother him. The other thing to try if he is outdoors fenced in w/ a chain link or short privacy fence, try placing a jar/can full of treats outside w/ a sign asking passers by to toss a cookie, then after a while ask them to give him a cookie. He may be just protecting you and his property, but he may also be fearful. Hopefully he will warm up to those int he neighborhood. Also mussled, if needed and appropriatly restrained. take him out into public, to the pet store or park so that he gets plenty of socialization and used to being around people.

Answer 5

Do NOT whack this dog in the head!!! Just get someone to help you, and have them walk by the dog, and as they do,if he starts to growl, call his name to get his attention, and reward him with a treat, and tell him how great he is. Repeat this over and over again (5-6 times a day), and the problem will disappear quickly. This is not necessarily and aggressive dog, he could just be unsure as to how much protection you need, assure him that people just walking by are OK and not a danger.

Answer 6

No it quite is not familiar yet once you accompanied him from a defend, i'm stunned to think of which you have been allowed a dogs it relatively is quite nutrition aggressive. in case you have the different canines in the domicile, which you do no longer point out, then i might seperate his nutrition from the different canines and save it down for all time so he will understand that on each occasion his little hearts desires it quite is there for him, yet you do could handle this situation in the past it turns into any worse, as a results of fact if it does he could chunk you once you're basically attempting to set his nutrition down. consult from a dogs coach approximately the thank you to nip the nutrition aggression in the bud.

Answer 7

Let him catch one and ask him "so now what?"

Seriously; your dog is convinced that he is the alpha and has to protect everyone. in order to stave this behaviour you and your family must become the alpha in his "pack". in order to do this you must do things like:

Not let him be first out the door or in the door

Not let him nose into his food as it is put into his dish - make him wait until you say "OK"

Make him heel as you walk him, not drag you forward (this can be tough - you have to keep pushing him down and back while telling him to heel; you can go on-line and find tips).

Not let him put his paws over your arms, hands, legs when he is interacting with you as this is assertive alpha behaviour; you should put your hand on his back and remove his paw when he tries it.

This is not in any way complete - go on-line and look up something like the dog whisperer....godd luck and hopefully good dog

Answer 8

Your dog is trying to show that he is your protector.Socialize him around people and reward him when he doesn't growl soon he will get the hint

Answer 9

Watch Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer On the History Channel

or

One day he will eventually bite someone and you will be in court.

Answer 10

Also Ceaser Milan the dog whisperer has a book out check it out at a book store.