Hello,

I have a 4-year old female Shepherd. I just had her spayed (I was thinking of possibly breeding her, but decided against it). So she's late getting spayed. She's "partially" obedience trained, leash anyway. She's pretty good about off leash also. I do need to work with her more, I'll be the first to admit. And that's going to change starting today.

Anyway, when we have people come over to the house, she barks, as she should. She is not real comfortable around people, and/or just doesn't really care for them. She barks, stops when asked to, then goes to sniff. Then she comes back to me and lays down. She has just recently started charging to the door, and refusing to "here" when called. She still sniffs the person, then comes back, and it's now time for some modification in how I work with her - I am going to purchase the E-collar DVD from Ed, but in the interim wonder what I should be doing. Putting a leash on her and popping her? or having visitors treat her (not fond of that one). I especially don't like her charging, and even more don't like her not coming when called.

I've been reading Ed's marker training, and like that idea. I also do need to socialize her more.

Advice is greatly appreciated. I do not want a fearful/aggressive dog and imagine it must be frightening to have someone come thru the door with a barking dog going off. I do not want this to esecalate.

Should also mention she is my dog, and my room-mate has 2 other large dogs. They all 3 run for the door when company comes over, but I do not want mine doing this.

Thanks

Theresa

Hi Theresa,

Glad you posted this question.

I for one, will say I'd avoid the ecollar for this situation, and if you haven't ordered the DVD yet, we might be able to recommend another one. You might cause a situation where the dog associates people coming over as a negative thing by using it is this type of training scenario.

Have you really TRAINED how you WANT her to react when people come over? There "here" is good, but if not trained with a doorbell ringing, the dog being called and then rewarded, she might not get it. Having a good "here" in a non-distracting situation might not equate to having one when her drive is amped up.

You might consider training "place" and use the marker system to do so. Then set up someone coming to ring the bell and sending her to her place, without opening the door. Just work on training her that even when the doorbell rings, she still goes to her place. THEN open the door, but no one comes in, etc... Break it down into small steps, working UP to someone coming and her still not breaking her place, until she is calm and released.

If you know this gal needs more socialization, then begin adding that as well, in small increments. If you know her obedience is week and you know she needs more socialization, then it is kinda' unfair to expect her to NOT respond as she is doing when folks come over.

You will love marker training. THAT would be a GREAT video to order.

Thanks very much for the quick reply. I have not ordered the DVD yet. I do NOT want to associate anything negative with company coming over, so will work on the obedience and marker training for that. Hadn't thought it thru of course I already have the obedience and a few other of his DVD's. Time to get them back out and re-watch!

I just want to make sure this does not escalate. It's difficult when I have 2 dogs that belong to someone else and are not worked at all, to deal with. Makes it tougher to work with her, but it is what it is. She has never really cared for other people. She will sniff and leave them alone. Which is what I want, not the charging!

Thanks!

Theresa

If the other two dogs are out of control, I would put her away in a crate when you are expecting company. This is a very high level of distraction to work under, not that its impossible, but it will definitely be an uphill battle. Once the visitors have settled in and the house is calm you can invite her out if you want.

Something to keep in mind is that if the other dogs are reaching the same level of intensity, this sort of situation has major potential for a nasty dog fight to break out.

Given that the other dogs living in the house are not controlled, IMHO it would be really unfair to work with corrections for this. Corrections could potentialy make it worse.

I would either plan to put her away or train all three of them.

Don't use the ecollar for this. You can confuse the dog with poor timing etc and be in a jackpot of trouble for someone who never used it before. Put the pinch collar on the dog and make it heel or sit or whatever when someone comes to the door. It's going to be tough with the other 2 going batshit at the door........

 Quote: Theresa_Greene

It's difficult when I have 2 dogs that belong to someone else and are not worked at all, to deal with.

Theresa,

Are these other two dogs in the same room when your dog is charging at the door? If so, I'd definitely put your dog away when guests are coming over! Not only is it not fair to correct her for behavior she hasn't been trained for, but adding two other dogs which are totally out of control will make it even harder for you to maintain control of your dog. In addition, three is a pack, so you have all those different elements to consider as well.

This doesn't mean you can't work on your dog however. Put the other two in crates, a separate room, garage, etc... and begin working on your gal. She still needs the socialization you mentioned and she still needs work on her obedience. Just take the two little rug rats out of the equation. Training her how you want her to react/not react is going to mean you eventually have a dog who is well trained and won't need contstant monitoring when you have folks over. jmo.

I'll agree with the others about the other two dogs are going to be a very high distraction and training should start with none then sloooowly add increasing distraction.
I also agree that a e-collar may be to much for a dog with nerve issues unless the handler/trainer is VERY experienced.
You will definitely need the assistance of your room mate with the other dogs or you'll be pushing a square rock up hill.

Thanks to all for good insight. Yes, the e-collar is not necessarily warranted here. And I'm going to be moving in two months, so the other 2 dogs will not be an issue. The 3 dogs all charge for the door when company comes over. I am able to be the "alpha" and get them to respect the space after they have charged. What I'm wondering is how to prevent it in the first place. The other 2 dogs have never really been worked with, they mind me as I require that they do, but have never been worked with. Pita (mine) has. I do want a few barks out of her, but when I say enough, enough. I think the place training, and a lot more obedience (just fitted a prong to her - and I have used an e-collar and trained a few dogs, just as pets - not competition) - will start getting her attention that when I say "here", I mean it now. Not "after" she has charged the door. My bad for not working with her enough.

I don't feel comfortable enough with the e-collar yet, and will buy his DVD. I don't want to make a good dog bad.

Thanks to all for your help with this.

Theresa & Pita

Oh - as far as dog fights, that potential is always there. Room-mate has an older Shepherd/Whippet cross that does not like my dog at all. However, they both know that fighting is NOT allowed, unless I start it! I do make all of the dogs mind, was raised in the country and had big dogs all my life. The 2nd dog (Shepherd/Rottie mix) is not nearly as dominant as the older one. Just a balancing act sometimes with older one and mine, but it's always been controllable.

Thanks!

Theresa & Pita

 Quote: theresa_greene

She has just recently started charging to the door, and refusing to "here" when called.

Worrying about temperament and pack structure and who is dominant and who isn't, is pointless.

Training and proofing the commands is what matters.

I wish you'd come to the forum before you spayed her, if you had concerns about her being fearful. We would have linked you to studies that show spaying bitches can make them more fearful.

If the dog is charging the door when people come over, crate her, and keep working on the training until you know she has a solid down-stay.