Well, VC, while I understand what you are saying....I don't think I would trust it. I think that if a dog is becoming territorial, or has a truly serious nature, that the hot dog machine training might give a false sense of security to the owner... what happens to the person who then arrives without the hotdogs? I would expect that when or if the dog was stressed by an unnanounced arrival (without treats) it may in fact regress back to agression.


You don't agree?

Not really, considering the circumstances I think it is a viable approach.

Can you explain what circumstances? You mean the current situation?

Like I said, these are my first dogs, but I think I click into it ok, trying the hotdog approach sounds to me like it may do some good, then SLOWLY ween off and get muzzle. I can then at least see the effects of this method.

OK, well I suppose it, of course, can't hurt to give it a try, but...I still wouldn't leave the dog hanging around unattended for quite a while...I guess I'm just a little gun shy from my own experience.....
Sean, I really hope that all works out well, it's great to see that you are dedicated to your dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, well I suppose it, of course, can't hurt to give it a try, but...I still wouldn't leave the dog hanging around unattended for quite a while...I guess I'm just a little gun shy from my own experience.....
Sean, I really hope that all works out well, it's great to see that you are dedicated to your dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes Sean, the current situation and behavior you have described.

First, you need to establish some house rules. No free access to the dog by anyone but family that lives in the home. If you are going to have company over, crate the dog. You can't have a young dog who you are protection training just hanging around the house where people come and go, at least not with this dog right now.


Second, to address the problem I would try to build a positive association with all strangers. . .especially if you want this dog to function as a family member. A great way to do that is make every person that he comes into contact with a hot dog machine.

People approach ignoring your dog and talking normally to you, and the person hands the dog a treat. Do that with as many people as possible and with everyone that comes into contact with the dog. Every one of your friends that does come to the house, you greet at the door with your dog and they hand him a treat as they come in the house. I'm sure you get the picture.

Ignore aggression (while restraining the dog) and have the people that are helping you train ignore it as well. DON'T REACT TO IT!!

His view of people should change over time, especially if he was social just a few months ago.


Because this is a potential work dog, I wouldn't want to use a lot of compulsion to correct the behavior because we don't really want to destroy behavior we may want to use in training, now do we? LOL