Firmly distract him by redirecting him and commanding him to follow you when approached by a stranger. Eventually, your dog will take his cues from your leadership, calmly walking past strangers and not reacting.
Territorial instincts (in any breed) can cause aggressive behavior towards “intruders,” whether animals or people. Then this behavior grows stronger because passersby, mail carriers, and delivery people come and go quickly; the dog may perceive that his behavior is what drives them away.
it is usually because they were either bred to be guard dogs or they were not fully socialized as a puppy. When a dog encounters someone they feel uncomfortable around, they want to increase the distance between them and the person. They can either flee or make the person go away by behaving aggressively.
You should also pair the presence of the stranger with rewards like small pieces of high value treats. Through desensitization and counterconditioning you'll be able to help your dog make positive associations to the presence of people and slowly shift your dog's feelings and behavior around meeting new people.
The best way of treating aggression towards strangers is to prevent it by socializing your dog when they are young, exposing your dog to lots of different situations and people in a safe, controlled environment, and teaching your dog that strangers are not a threat to you or him.
While it is never too late to socialize your dog, the sooner you start, the better. Socializing your dog is very important at any stage in their life. It's especially crucial as they get older.
For example, when your dog is afraid of strangers, slowly introduce your dog to someone who is standing far away. Give them treats and praise for acting calmly. Gradually decrease the distance between you and the stranger, while continuing to use treats and praise as positive reinforcement.
In most cases, the best way to get a reactive dog ready for socializing is to slowly expose them to their triggers in a controlled environment and reward them with natural dog treats until they no longer react so strongly.
If your dog is aggressive toward visitors to the home, put him in the yard or a secure room before opening the door or greeting guests. Some dogs only show aggression when people come into their perceived territory. So, be especially careful at doorways, gates and even car doors.
Dogs that are aggressive to strangers (i.e., non-family members) are afraid of the stranger. The aggression is an attempt by the dog to create distance between them and the scary human. More distance is what the dog wants in order to feel safe.
Sadly, they do not. The only way to counter reactivity is through consistent and positive training. You should never punish a dog for reactivity or it will only become worse. Especially if you own a young dog who suddenly shows reactive behavior, you should see professional help.
A great way to begin is by letting your dog interact with one person at a time. Let the nervous dog initiate the first contact so they don't feel overwhelmed. Always reward their good behavior, including moments where your dog is calm, curious, or friendly.
Many dogs that show territorial responses are often fearful and anxious and just want the intruder to leave. The longer the person stays within the territory, the more aggressively aroused the dog may become. The goal of the territorial display is to get the "intruder" to leave.
The most challenging time of raising a puppy is the adolescent period. Dogs become “teenagers” and seem to forget everything they have ever been taught. This period is individual to each dog, but it may begin when he's about eight months old and continue until he's two years old.
While dogs can and do experience social learning throughout their lifetimes, puppies are maximally primed for socialization between the ages of 3-14 weeks of age. This period is called the ''sensitive period for socialization”.
Reactive behaviors usually crop up in adolescence around 6 to 18 months of age and tend to get worse as the dog reaches social maturity around 2 or 3 years of age. Your pup will not “grow out of” this behavior.
This kind of work can take anywhere from two to 12 months, as that's how long it takes for a dog to learn a new behavior. After that time period, you should be able to substitute negative reactions with positive thoughts.
A reactive dog is usually a fearful dog. Causes can be genetic, but they are more likely due to a lack of socialization, prior bad experiences or a lack of training. Aggressive dogs show similar signs but are determined to cause harm and destruction.
Jumping up on people is a natural canine behavior. Dogs get to say hello face-to-face when they jump. Even better, it's guaranteed to get attention. However, from a human point of view, jumping to greet is annoying and possibly dangerous.
Dogs that display dominant behavior feel that they must prove they're in charge of a situation. The growling, snapping, or biting occurs when they feel their position is being challenged.
A dog's aggression can lead to a bad outcome if your dog bites someone. The good news is that a growl or snap is your dog's way of communicating a waning—and your dog is choosing to warn you instead of biting.