Not sure if I should have started this new thread or follow the PPD one going so, gulp, sorry in advance Robert (VC) if I did this wrong. Please let me know for future reference.

My dog barks very aggressively and even charges the back door when someone rings bell there, looks like he wants to break thru the glass. But if you come to the front door, he'll do nothing but wag his tail and yell through the door, "Come on in, I'm friendly as anything"!

I think I now know why. Almost everyone who comes to our front door is someone he knows well (mom, sisters, friends, etc.) Realizing this, can someone help me to sort of retrain or train him to NOT assume the front door people are friendly. Just a few minutes ago the UPS guy was at my door. Yep, my dog was oh so happy to see him. Never saw him before but that was his reaction. I put on a tiny bit of a show and told the guy "I have to hold onto my dog". It was very embarrassing <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> . I don't think he was the least bit afraid of the dog!

At 11 months, should I have a "stranger" knock on the front door at times in an intimidating fashion to sort of undo my dog's assumptions that all at the front door are friendly? He hasn't had any PP training yet nor is his alert command reliable by any stretch of the imagination. Help!

Absolutley NOT! You'll create a host of other problems for you and your dog!

I have just the opposite scenario:

Family friends etc. always use the back door and he is fine with that.

If a stranger comes to the door or in the garden for that matter (postman) he goes NUTZ and wants to kill them on the spot. I've been working hard to get him to stop this but with not a lot of success. I'm going to write up a log and do a video so I can post for comments a bit later.

I think you could start with having friends and family using the back door if possible, in your case. This may desensitise the dog from everything that comes through the froont door as being good. I would NOT recommend giving the dog a bad experience to make him agressive toward strangers, I believe this would just make the dog a bag of nerves and you'd have a possible fear bite on your hands. REMEBER your dog is just a puppy ATM.

I don't have much in the way of experience so others may be better suited to offer more grounded advice but that's just my thoughts on it.

HTH

John

Have you considered what life would be like if your dog wanted to eat everyone at the door? I have had one of those, and I now enjoy dogs that don't care who comes through the door immensely. However, holding a friendly dog like he's a goon to the UPS man, (killers that they are) is too funny, I probably would of peed my pants if I saw some goofy stuff like that. Heck I am laughing right now! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Look out evil UPS man, my dog is gonna git ya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Just post a sign by the front door that says, "Strangers, please go to back door." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That was very funny. Love your idea. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My dogs will bark and alert and only quiet down,when I come and let the person in at the gate, no one comes to my front door directly, we have security gates on all the doors.
They will however never let anyway just walk into the house.
The noise would drive them away <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Once the people come in the property, they have that very alert look about them, I like that always watching, every move, and if I go in and leave them outside and go in the house,they run from window to window <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> trying to see whats happening inside.Gosh life would be boring without them!