I have a four year old altered male beagle, border collie x. He is extremely protective of our home and our car. When a stranger approaches our front door or tries to come into our home he becomes aggressive, barking, growling, hackles raised etc. This is the same for our car when someone walks by it while we are inside. I am confused about how to solve this problem because he is a perfect gentleman when we go out in public, with people and other dogs, at the park pet store etc. He is fine with people we know and I was stunned when a child he had never met came over and we were very worried and cautious but he was perfectly well behaved. This has all continued to be consistently the same for the last three years.(The problem began when he was about a year). He loves kids whether he has met them or not but adults he is always wary of in the beginning. The only solution I have come up with is that he is much more controllable when I have his beloved toy out when he is introduced, he seems torn between barking at the person and playing fetch, but invariably always chooses the toy. He also seems to take longer to trust women in our home than men. He has nipped two people before (he lightly nipped their fingers, no marks and from behind them). Both women and both times the situation was different than in others. My husband let them in without thinking and the dog bolted out the door and nipped. I have never had him nip when I was the one to answer the door, and since then my husband puts him into the bedroom before he answers the door if I am not available to make the dog behave. My husband is a little timid with dogs and our dogs don't listen to him very well. With me the dog has perfect recall and is always watching me for commands, he is my dog and very much a one person kind of dog. He is also very submissive with every member of the family most of the time and always with me. I am just at a loss for what is causing this other than protecting the family or the property from "intruders" but why doesn't he seem to trust our judgment? What can I do to make him defer to my judgment of the "intruder"? With the toy and basic obedience I have been able to control the situation but I guess my question is this : Is there a way to make it so that he will accept anyone I let into the house without his feeling the need to warn them? And also out of curiosity why is his response so good with children but so overprotective with adults?

First things first, how much obedience training does this dog have?

Is he crated at all?

How much exercise does he get during the day?

What do you do when he reacts to people this way?

 Quote: Bonnie M Walker

My husband is a little timid with dogs and our dogs don't listen to him very well.

DogS?
How many, and what types? Male, female, etc.

The dog has basic obedience training, he's never been to an obedience class I have had dogs my whole life and I train them all so he knows the basics like sit, down, come, stay and heal. He also knows find (i.e. the toy, the chihuahua that ran off again, etc.) His training started when I got him at three months and I use it everyday to keep him up to date. He is not crated. He was an only dog for a long time and I never had any reason to crate him he is not a defiant sort of dog, when I tell him go lie down he goes to his corner behind a chair. He plays fetch pretty much all day long he brings me the toy constantly so there is that and when the weather is warm enough we go hiking, though in the winter I just take him for short walks. When someone knocks on the door and he reacts this way I get the toy, get his attention then put him in a sit stay before I let then in. He has a hard time keeping his attention on me he looks at the person barks a little under his breath then back to me and the toy, but within a few minutes the toy has him and he is ok. When it is a surprise like someone is walking through our yard(we share a front yard with four other duplexes) and he runs towards them I call him and he comes then I bring him inside and he's generally fine.

The dog in question is a beagle border collie X male, altered four years old and 35lbs. The other two are a female unaltered beagle 1 1/2 years and a female chihuahua unaltered 1 year old. My husband is not timid with our dogs just let me clarify, but dogs in general. He is not very knowledgeable and isn't terribly interested in becoming knowledgeable. The dogs are my thing according to him. I am a dog person I have never in my life since birth been without canine companionship and don't ever intend to. I guess my question is why does he act this way and what can I do to make him feel like he isn't required to initiate newcomers. I am under the impression that as the leader of the pack in all ways my judgment is what matters and if I feel comfortable with them then he should too. I suppose that it is possible that I have some sort of unconcious tense reaction when someone comes over because I am worried about the dog, but I try my best to be a calm and confident person with my dogs and in all other aspects he behaves beautifully.

 Quote: bonnie m walker

The dog has basic obedience training, he's never been to an obedience class I have had dogs my whole life and I train them all so he knows the basics like sit, down, come, stay and heal.

Then theoretically, he could be in a sit or place or any position (including "go lie down," as you mentioned) before the door was opened? He would stay in position as taught? Or is that unreliable with a new visitor?

I'm curious about how you determined that his door and car behavior were "protective" behaviors (not fearful or territorial, say).

Also, as Alyssa asked, what do you do when he has nipped?


P.S. Welcome to the board!