My dog Luke is an 11 month old pointer/lab mix. I have had him since May 2008 when I adopted him from the pound. I've noticed Luke has issues when new people come around. I think he is being protective over me, but it really scares me when kids are involved. He growls and snaps when they get to close to him. With adults I can tell them to just let him smell them until he gets used to them, which takes about 5-10 mins. He's usually fine after they are there for a while and has no problem when he meets them again. However, with children he doesn't seem to warm up to them...

What can I do to break this bad behavior. I think it's good he wants to protect me, but how to I train him to know when I need protecting and when I don't?

Welcome to the board!

Why would you construe this behavior as "protecting" you (which it's not)?

What does "they come around" mean? Do you mean in the home or on the street?

Are strangers allowed to pet him?

Is the dog leashed?

Please give a detailed description of an incident, including what the new person does, and what you and the dog do. Exactly how close is the "too close" that triggers growling or snapping, and what is the new person doing?

Sara, forget the idea that he's trying to protect you. Thats the one thing I'll say until you answer what Connie's asked you.

This has happened both at home and away from home. At home he has shown this behavior to anyone who comes in the house that he does not know. He's fine with my roommates and close friends, but anyone who is new when they try to pet him and say hi he growls at and sometimes tries to nip at them. The reason I believe he's trying to protect me is the fact that I watched him do the same thing when the little girl I was babysitting came up to my mom (who Luke is very close to). Luke got between the girl and my mom and started growling at her. The next time I had the kids over he was fine until she came to sit next to me on a chair. Luke walked right up to her and started growling. With adults he's usually fine once they come around more than once but he never seems to warm up to the kids....

Luke is crate trained in the house, but is out of the cage when I am at home. He is kept on a lead outside when we are walking. I don't allow strangers to come up and pet him anymore because of how he reacts. They have to go through the whole smelling and ignorning process before he will allow them to pet him...It just scares me because if I'm in a place with him with many people it's hard to watch that everyone doesn't touch him!

Let me know if you need more details and thanks for the help!

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Thanks!

Sorry I hit post instead of preview... this should be better!

It just scares me because if I'm in a place with him with many people it's hard to watch that everyone doesn't touch him!

On leash? Like where?

There is a lot to address here. He is probably resource guarding (his perception being that he owns you, and/or your mother, and someone is encroaching on his possession). But I'm trying to get to the details. Have you done any kind of training? What kind? Have you read anything about pack structure/leadership?

Meanwhile, I would never allow strangers to come in and touch the dog, and, in fact, I'd have him crated when strangers were coming.

How often are children around? Exactly how do you introduce them to him? Is he always on a leash when children are around? (If not, that is number one.)