How do I stop my dog from aggressively barking and biting at visitors?

Question

How do I train my dog to not do something he knows he shouldn’t be doing? This isn’t about being a naughty dog, but rather an obsessive dog. My dog is very smart and almost has the personality of a human, so he knows what we like and don’t like him doing. We have had the same maid since he was a few months old, and every morning when she arrives, he barks at her very aggresively and tries to “bite” her ankles. He knows he shouldn’t do it because we have scolded him, but he can’t help it. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 11 years and 3 months old | 28 lbs

Jessica Desrosiers · Accepted Answer

While you may think he "knows he shouldn't do it" that doesn't mean he actually does, or isn't still wanting to do it. It could be that the maid coming by is extremely stressful for him, or he has fear associated with it- especially if you scold him every time. In his mind, he may think maid comes over = I get yelled at, so he tries to shoo away the maid in the hopes he won't be yelled at or scolded. Speaking with a trainer or behaviorist about BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) is a good idea. This can help nervous or fearful dogs desensitize to certain stimulus through positive, gradual introductions, rather than forcing him into a fearful situation. Moving him to another room or outside until you can work with a trainer can also help and can keep your maid safe from being bitten if he's actively trying to bite her. Trying to make her coming by a positive experience instead of a fearful one may also help. When she comes by, have her toss him a treat and then ignore him, or give him a special Kong or toy filled with his favorite snacks, so that he begins to associate maid coming over = fun! instead. As aggression is a very complicated issue, I highly recommend working with a trainer or behaviorist in person so that they can observe and work with you to positively change Brownie's behavior. In the US you can find a list of nearby behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

How do I stop my dog from aggressively barking and biting at visitors?

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