You can start with the free webinar. This will help you understand WHY he’s behaving this way. That’s where to begin. You can’t “train” him without first understanding where he’s coming from. Check out the free webinar, you’ll love it!
The Reactivity Webinar happens weekly on Wednesday and Sunday at 3pm EST (USA time). The link for the webinar is here, and you can choose this week or the following week: http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/reactivity-webinar/
If you register, you’ll get the recording via email after the webinar

I have a 2 year old collie cross, who developed aggressive behaviours very quickly (in the space of about 2 weeks) 10 months ago. He has bitten multiple people, all strangers (to him) coming onto our property. His aggression is purely territorial and protective, and only occurs at home and now more recently in the car. He is very reactive when he sees or hears people walking by, barking, growling and pacing. His bites have always been inhibited, but are still serious.

He is otherwise superbly trained, extremely intelligent, receptive and is beyond perfect out on walks where he has no desire to protect his space. He was well socialised with dogs, people and environments from a young age and the turn in his behaviour came as a complete surprise. Until then he was happy to meet anyone and everyone coming into his home space calmly and never reacted to passers-by’s. Once he has met someone he enjoys their company a lot and is very friendly and respectful. He has no problems with seperation anxiety, no resource guarding, walks on a loose leash.

I have had him checked at the vet, have muzzle trained him and have had extensive training sessions over the past 9 months with a professional dog behaviourist. We have tried counter conditioning and desensitisation, by our trainers recommendation, using food and play as a reward for desired behaviour dependant on the situation.

This has not worked effectively despite our consistency. He will be responsive while we’re training but as soon as I’m caught off guard (without treats in hand) he will revert back to being reactive. He is smart, and knows when I have don’t have treats. He does listen, at times, but if he goes over threshold it’s too late and I have to remove him from the situation.

The car has been especially challenging, and we’ve had some close calls with people trying to pet him through the window etc. as he appears friendly, but suddenly explodes.

His behaviour has very clear triggers but sometimes he doesn’t get as triggered, or sometimes not at all which makes it unpredictable. It’s almost like he perceives some people are a threat and others aren’t. At the moment I have resorted to just managing him in a way that minimises his access to triggers and that he cannot bite again – crating him when we have visitors, preventing his access from the front garden where people walk by on the other side of the fence, and being extremely careful when we’re out and about in the car.

I have been going over and over everything and anything I can possibly to do calm his anxiety and teach him it’s not his job to protect me or the space, but nothing has worked and it’s honestly breaking my heart as he used to be a dog I could take anywhere and do anything with. He is an incredible dog, and I will keep trying. Any advice would be so appreciated. I would love to do your online course, when I have the means.

The most important step in correcting this behaviour is to understand WHY your dog is behaving this way. Very often this is to do with them thinking they are more important than they actually are – hence (in the dog way) “telling off” the human who tries to correct them. When you are able to communicate to them that they can switch off and relax because the humans are in charge, everything changes and becomes a lot easier.

Here is a link to a blog post that explains more about dog aggression:
http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-dealing-with-dangerous-dog-aggression-issues/

… and here’s one about dogs biting their owners : http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/when-dogs-bite-their-owners/
You would also benefit from one of my programs. I’d recommend The Complete Pack http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com
All the best, Dan

The most important step in correcting this behaviour is to understand WHY your dog is behaving this way. Very often this is to do with them thinking they are more important than they actually are – hence (in the dog way) “telling off” the human who tries to correct them. When you are able to communicate to them that they can switch off and relax because the humans are in charge, everything changes and becomes a lot easier.

Here is a link to a blog post that explains more about dog aggression:
http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-dealing-with-dangerous-dog-aggression-issues/

… and here’s one about dogs biting their owners : http://theonlinedogtrainer.com/when-dogs-bite-their-owners/
You would also benefit from one of my programs. I’d recommend The Complete Pack http://theonlinedogtrainer.com
All the best, Dan

Hi Chantel, I do want to start off by saying that you can absolutely turn your dog’s behaviour around. She is just doing the job she feels she needs to do to keep her family safe, but you can start to show her that this is actually not something she needs to do anymore. The behaviours you describe are ones we deal with regularly and if you take a look at my membership website (TheOnlineDogTrainer.com) then you will see we have resources to help with each of the behaviours you outline, making it so much easier for you to know where to start. The key is to educate you first, and when you start to change your behaviour you dog will also change hers! All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Monique…..it is likely your dog was trying to protect you both. A stranger approaching is something he would have seen as a potential threat, especially if that stranger is really close. The fact that you were also lying on the ground, would have made you appear more vulnerable in your dog’s eyes, and this could have increased his desire to protect you and keep you safe. If this happens in the future then keep your dog close to you and on a shorter leash for greater control, maybe even sit or stand up, and reassure the stranger that you are ok and would prefer them to give your dog a little space. If your dog is generally reactive towards strangers then that’s definitely something my membership website will help with. All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Joel….settling into a new environment/home can be a really unsettling time for dogs, especially those who have had limited socialisation. My advice is to take things slowly so as not to overwhelm your dog, and keep walks really short so he has time to get used to all the new things going on around him. He will be trying to wok out what his role is in his new family and the way that you interact with him is a really important part of this process. Using a muzzle for safety is smart but used in isolation it will not solve his behaviour…..only the information you give him will do that and there is absolutely no need for you to use force or intimidation.
My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will be a really helpful place for you to start as it details how to overcome this type of behaviour…..we also have an introductory offer going with a trial period of 3 days for just $1USD. This is definitely a behaviour you can overcome, with the right information and a little patience. All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Chris…believe it or not this is actually a common issue. Whilst not all dogs bite/nip many will get excited when strangers or guests are in the house. Some dogs can be really susceptible to the energy levels of children and when play is loud and exciting then a dog’s behaviour can escalate….often they aren’t aware that the children are simply playing and they will try to micro-manage the interaction, which is why adult supervision is so important. Having your dog on-leash when visitors arrive will allow you to make sure he is genuinely calm around visitors before he is allowed a little more freedom. Also asking your visitors to delay greeting him until he is calm, and then inviting him to them to say ‘hi’ rather than approach him to do so, is a great way to ensure he is comfortable with their presence. If you can see he is getting a bit excited or agitated by your visitor then calmly put him back on-leash to calm down again, or you can place him in another room. Calm and consistent actions from you will allow him to understand that he needs to use more self-control….getting angry at him and shouting is not a great way for him to learn. My membership website My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has a lot more information that will help you understand what is going on and how to calm things down…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Timothy….any significant incident has the ability to change a dog’s behaviour, particularly if it was a little traumatic or unsettling for the dog involved. The good news is that you can change your dog’s behaviour towards strangers by understanding how he feels about them in the first place. Most dogs see strangers as potential dangers and when those dangers invade their personal space, or get too close, the dogs can feel really unsettled. For dogs that fit into this category I always recommend allowing them a little time to get comfortable with a strangers presence and if they do seem calm and relaxed you can ask the stranger to invite your dog to go to them for a pat rather than have them approach your dog. This allows your dog a choice, if he is comfortable with them then he will approach them when invited, but if he chooses not to then he should be allowed that right. If he approaches the stranger without being invited then they should avoid interacting with him as this is not a sign he is ok with their presence, he is more likely ‘risk assessing’. We cover this issue on my membership website….…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

I have a 2.5 year old old English Shepard. Last year he got sick and it ended up being that when he was neutered (before we got him) they left a testicle. He has a surgery and has it removed but since then it seems he has gotten more and more aggressive (bitten a few people). I’m wondering if his health issue could be the cause or of there are some other things. He is great 95% of the time. Most of the bites were when he was being petted and he gets really aggressive when he is put in his crate for bedtime and meals. Any thoughts on what we can do to fix this?

Hi Mirsa, I always like to remind dog owners that their dog’s view strangers as potential threats. Of course we know that strangers mean no harm but our dogs don’t necessarily feel that way. If that stranger then invades the personal space of a dog then it can leave them feeling very unsettled and anxious, in some cases nipping to try to defend themselves. Think about how we may react if a stranger came right into our personal space. If a stranger would like to meet your dog try allowing a little space and time for your dog to get used to their presence to start with. If your dog is calm then ask the stranger to invite your dog to them, rather than approach your dog to give him a pat….this allows our dogs a choice and protects their personal space. If you analyse what occurred, as startling as it was, you might be able to identify why your dog behaved the way they did. Best, Doggy Dan

Hi Rachel,
When dogs are unwell they can start to feel really vulnerable, not to mention less tolerant, and they can over-react to situations they never normally worried about. Lashing out at your other dog is likely his way of trying to retain his position in the family/pack, but it may also be that your other dog is putting a little pressure on your unwell dog, which happens more often than you think! The good news is that you can help your dog feel more settled and allow him to relax again…..even while you are still getting to the bottom of his medical issues. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Esmeralda,
Changes to a dog’s routine and environment, especially moving them into a new home, can be a really unsettling experience for some dogs and it can leave them feeling anxious and overwhelmed. As a result of this their behaviour can change. Always remember that a growl is a warning to back off, and it’s one that should be listened to. One quick tip to help avoid your dog feeling the need to growl/bite…..always invite him to you first before giving him any affection or attention…avoid going to him to do so. This means he has a choice in whether or not he wants to interact, and that alone can make a BIG difference. Also, when you go to visit him try waiting a few minutes before saying ‘hi’ to him, especially if he’s excited or trying to get your attention.
Having said all of the above, safety is paramount and so young children should always be supervised when they are around dogs…even those that are familiar to them.
If you feel confused about your dog’s behaviour then seeking professional advice is a good idea, maybe even a trip to the Vet to ensure he is physically ok. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com is another great option to inform yourself…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

Hi Deanna,
The first thing I want to say is that if the biting seems overly aggressive or you feel scared/intimidated by your dog’s behaviour then having a professional assist you, in a one-on-one basis, would be really helpful. Identifying the cause of the behaviour is important in developing strategies to overcome it. I will say that in many cases where the mouthing/biting would not be considered to be motivated by aggression then other causes may be attention seeking or the desire to direct/control your behaviour.
It’s important to look at the times and scenarios in which your dog does the behaviour…..if she does it consistently when you are on the phone then my gut feeling would be that she is trying to gain your attention, and so telling her off or responding verbally is not the best approach….it will only show her that the behaviour works for her and she will likely continue to do it. If she mouths you or bites you then I would recommend immediately placing her in another room on her own for 5-10 minutes, or if you feel unsafe then you leave the room she is in and prevent her from following you by closing the door on her. This will show her that this behaviour no longer gains your attention AND if she continues to do it then she will actually find herself on her own for a little while. You will most likely need to be really consistent with how you respond to her and she may start to test you a little as well. Try to remain calm and always stay safe! If you would like some further information about how you can solve this behaviour my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com is also a great place to start…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan