We have a 16month old AB who has come a long way in her dominance issues ( see my posting under dominant dogs) any way here is our issue. Tara is a great family pet and is very receptive to my parents when they come over. But when my sons friends are over she is fearful and bark and lunges at them. We have the Ed’s dominant dog tape and are working with a behaviorist and things are much much better. And we are keeping her away form my kids friends. Is there a way to get her past that and better socialized so that we can have people over and her not go at them. We have a exchange student coming to live with us next week and need to know how to introduce them so there are no problems while he is here for 3 wks. We want it to be a good experience for him and we need to get it so she is not aggressive to the other kids that come over. Last night I managed to catcher as it started and she got the level 10 correction she was put in a down stay which she did and stopped barking but just laid there and shook. Her shackles where down and she was obedient to me.
Why did she shake so much ?
How do we introduce her to our visitor so they get a long or is that even possible
Thanks
Dave

How is she when she sees or when she's introduced to people outside her turf, like on the sidewalk or park for example?

On walks she ignores people when on a walk and most people stay a way they think she is a pit. but when we stop to talk and stuf she ignores them and is calm. I try not to let to many people pet her when out and about it all depends on how she is acting when they aproch. We do take her to the pet store with us and never have any issues there

is it just kids she has a problem with? you mentioned that she does fine with your parents but not your son's friends. perhaps they're more rapid in their approach or startling to her?

(just wondering....i'm new to dogs, but if she's fine in the street/store/with adults, perhaps it's something to do w/the demographic? it wouldn't make it okay, but maybe lets you focus on getting the behaviour stopped before it starts?)

There may be some more ideas coming your way, in the meantime since she is good with people outside the home, that would be a good place to have her meet your son's friends, before they come in the house. Same thing with the foreign exchange student.

Have your dog completely under your control, on leash, take her a couple of homes away (off her turf) and introduce the kids, even if she's met them before. Then walk in the home together, letting the kids go in first before you, then the dog last. That may help.

Make sure that you're calm (don't get tense or apprehensive) but in control as soon as you enter your home with your dog after the kid/s go in.

Put her away when kids are over

Thanks for all the ideas. we do keep her put up when kids are over and have now for a while. Kacie your right a bout the leash on at all times or youll regret it. The other day I thought all the kida had left so I when tot get her out of her cage. I started to let her go with out the drag leash but at the last sec. I put her pinch coller and drag line on her as we entered the house 2 of the kids had came back, boy was I glad I had put the coller and leash on her.

Well we had Tara meet our guest to day and it when well. He has been here for 3 days now and we finaly let them meet. for the first 2 days when they where are school I would let her smell his things so she knew he belonged here then to day on leash and pinch coller I walked her by him and would not let her look at him and hi ignored her I put her in down stay she when to sleep. after a few min. I let her sniff him he petted her and she walked away and layed down. While laying down I did her an under the breath growl I popped her with the pinch and a firm no and that ended that no issues. We will keep her close and not allow them together off lead or with out me or my wife incontrole of her .
Thanks for the input any other suggestions let me know
Thanks

Hi,

I have 2 dogs who bark when the doorbell rings or a knock at the dog. One is super friendly but justs sounds the alarm for a few seconds. The other is less confident with people and will sound off but just stay away from the visitors after a few seconds. I did not like the fact that they both ran up to the door like they were in charge so I have implemented the following procedure:

I have someone ring the door bell. As soon as my 2 start barking I issue a "BACK" command. This means they go back into the kitchen. As soon as they reach the kitchen area I give them a very good treat (meat usually)with praise. I then give them a stay command while I go open the door for the visitor. They can see me open the door from their spot in the kitchen. After a brief time I tell them to "come" and when they do they get another great treat. They are starting to associate the bell with going to the kitchen (meat) and the visitor with another great snack from mom. It seems to take their minds off the visitor and on me.

Mary Ellen Sheedy