If you’ve ever uttered the phrase, “My dog is aggressive towards visitors” then you’re not the only one.
And while it might feel like an uphill battle to get your pooch to remain calm around house visits, it’s by no means impossible with the right plan of action.
The first step? …teaching your dog how to be calm and in control of their emotions.
See, the reason you’re struggling to control your dog’s aggression towards visitors is that your dog is naturally triggered by something called the fight or flight response.
And this happens they feel any type of overwhelming emotion.
For instance, when a stranger sets foot in your house, your dog could feel threatened, fearful, anxious.
It doesn’t really matter…
Because when one of these emotions is triggered, your dog will find it almost impossible to respond rationally.
This is why before you do anything else, I’d highly recommend taking a look at the short video below from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Online Dog Trainer.
During the video, Dan demonstrates why emotional control is the key to dialing down your dog’s aggression before revealing simple, highly effective calming exercises that will help your dog quickly take control of their emotions.
Better still these exercises take just minutes a day to implement.
So watch the video, apply Dan’s methods, and you should see a marked improvement in your dog’s ability to remain calm around visitors.
Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Dogs Dangerous, Unwanted Aggression Towards Visitors… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
(video will open in a new window)
What Causes Aggression In Dogs?
Now, dogs can be aggressive for many reasons.
And while some of these reasons are more problematic than others. You can usually narrow it down to one or more of the following…
Natural Instinct
Although dogs have evolved from wild animals to household pets, some of their instincts can remain. They include instincts for survival, safety, and breeding.
Fearful Aggression
A fearful dog can often become an aggressive dog.
This is because your dog may feel trapped, in danger, or that he must defend himself.
Sometimes this can be caused by earlier experiences in their life.
He may have been abused by a previous owner or simply not socialized properly. If this is the case, it’s something that needs addressing as soon a possible.
Anxiety Based Aggression
Anxiety can be caused by unfamiliar social situations, different kinds of noise, or separation from his owner. Visitors can sometimes make your dog feel isolated or alone.
So make sure they’re still getting enough attention when around other people or animals.
Possessiveness
Dogs are territorial animals. So when someone comes into your home, he may feel the need to defend your home, family, and everything that personally belongs to him.
Showing Signs Of Dominance
When a dog shows dominant behavior, he is showing he needs to be in charge.
See, dogs are naturally pack animals, and when someone new enters their domain. It can sometimes trigger this pack mentality that causes unwanted aggression.
Never Rule Out Illness
It could be that your dog is merely Ill. And while any illness can affect your dog’s behavior, pain can be a particular problem.
For example, if your dog has developed arthritis or sustained an injury. It can often cause aggressive tendencies. So it’s more than likely your dog won’t be on their best behavior.
In some cases, it usually isn’t too tricky to spot generic injuries like cuts and bruises.
But if you can’t determine the cause or believe his aggression might be connected to a health problem. It would be wise to seek advice from your veterinarian.
A thorough examination can detect or rule out medical problems, and your vet can recommend appropriate treatment or other advice.
What Specifically Causes Aggression Towards Visitors
Now, if you notice your dog is well-behaved around your family and regular guest.
But all hell breaks loose when an unfamiliar visitor shows up at the door.
Then it’s a potentially dangerous situation that needs nipping in the bud ASAP.
Fear Of The Unknown
You may be entirely comfortable with your boss or a new neighbor visiting your home. But this is not necessarily true for your dog.
If he does not know the person, he may take a stranger’s presence as a serious threat.
Your dog may be afraid the stranger will harm him, and begin to show aggressive behavior because he believes he must protect himself from this intruder.
Territorial Aggression
Your dog has an instinctive need to protect everything that is his own.
He believes it is his job to protect his owner, the other members of his human family, and the home where they all live.
While this may be an asset if there’s a genuine threat (for instance, someone breaking into your home), it is not always a good characteristic in a family pet.
There are differences in territorial aggression. It can be caused by fear or by a sense of dominance.
And while it can sometimes be easy to determine the difference. When territorial aggression is driven by fear, your dog will appear fearful, nervous, or anxious.
However, when he is driven by dominance, he will show a higher level of confidence.
Lack of proper training
Like children, your dog usually won’t know how to behave correctly unless they’ve been taught. Socialization is one of the most important parts of training.
At its best, socialization begins when puppies are young. This does not mean older dogs cannot be taught. Because if you do things right, dogs of any age can learn to not behave aggressively toward your visitors.
But if you’re like most people, you probably have visitors in your home from time to time. But this doesn’t mean it has to be a bad experience due to an aggressive, out-of-control dog.
You need to remember that visitors should always feel comfortable and in your home. So an unpredictable dog can put a spanner in the works.
(video will open in a new window)
How To Stop Your Dog From Being Aggressive Toward Visitors
It is not impossible to change your dog’s aggressive behaviors. And the best approach is to simply address this issue as soon as you notice it.
Despite what you might believe, behavior can be changed over time, even if the aggression has been apparent for months or even years.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Responding to aggression will only make matters worse.
So if you take an aggressive approach to your dog, it’s highly likely he’ll become aggressive toward you.
So first things first…
Never yell, threaten, or hit your dog. Because while it may draw attention away from your visitor, it can sometimes have a negative impact on his behavior towards you instead.
Distractions Can Work
Now, there are several ways you can distract your dog when a visitor arrives.
For instance, you could simply distract him by keeping a couple of toys near the door or letting him run around in the yard to burn off any excess energy.
Treats are also a great distracting, so make sure you have a few handy. Then, when an expected visitor arrives, simply sprinkle a few treats on the floor and let him go nuts.
If you do, you’ll probably notice his attention will be drawn towards enjoying his treats instead of acting aggressively toward your guests.
Rewarding good behavior
Whenever your dog behaves appropriately toward your visitors, this behavior should be quickly acknowledged.
You can praise him verbally, pat him gently, or give him a special treat.
But it’s essential to keep your response consistent. Choose the method that will work best for you, and continue to do it every time.
Try A Few Calming Exercises
There are some special techniques you can use to help your dog feel calm.
Not only are these techniques effective. They’re also capable of making your dog highly responsive to your instructions, making it a lot easier to keep them calm around visitors.
One method is to turn your back toward your guest as soon as he comes into your home. This will show your dog that the visitor is not a threat.
Secondly, you could just stand between your guest and your dog. This will give your dog the message that your visitor is not a threat.
Another useful technique is to gently place one of your hands underneath your dog’s chin, or gently under the collar.
The critical thing to remember with each of these techniques is that your dog will respond to your natural energy.
So if you’re genuinely calm and relaxed, then they will quickly follow suit.
Train your dog
Despite what you might think dogs of any age can be trained.
And although it is usually easier to train puppies or younger dogs.
When you want to stop your dog’s aggression toward visitors, your ultimate goal must be to train him to respond to you.
See if you can teach your dog to obey commands such as “sit,” “lie down,” and “stay.” Chances are it’ll have a positive effect on the overall bond you have with your dog. And in most cases, make them less aggressive towards visitors in your home.
Never Underestimate The Power Of Socialization
Now, if a lack of socialization is the problem, it can be corrected.
You can start by taking him to public places. A public park can be a good choice. But just make sure he’s wearing a leash.
Begin his socialization process by showing him a good example with a friendly tone of voice and body language.
You could even go as far as to greet the people you meet while out walking. While encourage your dog to do the same.
If you introduce your dog to each person in a friendly manner. It shouldn’t take him long to learn that most people are friendly, and there’s actually nothing to fear.
And after your dog is accustomed to meeting people in public places, you can then continue the process with visitors in your home.
Again it works even better if you can stay calm and show him you genuinely like the visitor. And it can be something as simple as introducing your visitor to your dog, so he feels he has made a new friend.
Take A Trip To The Vet
If you’ve tried one or more of the above methods and it’s still not working…
…Or you cannot determine the underlying cause of your dog’s aggressive behavior. It might be time to make an appointment with your vet.
If your vet finds your dog does not have any health problems. Or there’s nothing apparent that’s causing the aggression.
Then it might be time to consider other measures.
Should you hire a dog trainer?
If you’re thinking about hiring a trainer to help with your dog’s aggression, there is a critical point to keep in mind.
Some trainers do not allow dog owners to be involved in the training. So if you choose a trainer who takes this approach, you may not get the results you want.
Your dog may learn to cooperate with the trainer, but not with you. So if you are considering a trainer, choose one that will involve you in the process.
Should you restrain an aggressive dog?
Now, a lot of people believe restraining an aggressive dog is the best approach.
And even if you’re open to putting your dog on a leash, in a cage, or in a separate room away from visitors. In the long run, this is not the best way to deal with an aggressive dog.
Why?
Because it is only a temporary fix and does not resolve the problem.
Having said that, the last thing you want is your dog to bite and attack your guests.
So if you believe a visitor is in danger of attack, it can be in everyone’s best interest by keeping your visitors out of harm’s way.
However, because this is not a long-term solution. You still need to seek out an approach that provides permanent results. But if you try one or more of the methods highlighted above. I’ve no doubt you’ll be able to solve the problem sooner rather than later.
But regardless of the underlying issue, you can usually stop unwanted aggression and promote better behavior.
All it takes is time and patience, and your dog can be a joy to both you and your guests.
(Video will open in a new window)
