Location:  Phoenix, Arizona

Dog Age: 2 years

Dog Sex:  Female

Neutered?  Yes

Dog Breed:  Pit bull/terrier

Training History: None

Number and ages of humans in household: (3) 33, 30, 1 year

Other Pet Info:  A lab that was a long time pet died in January

How Long Owned:  Almost 2 years

Other Info:  We found the dog in a dumpster when she was 5-6 months old - she was malnourished, abused and frightened.

Question:  She is very friendly to family members, however she is very aggressive toward any new person, especially in our house. She will growl and nip at people if they come too close.

When does the problem arise:  We noticed this shortly after we took her in.

How often does the problem occur?  When ever someone new comes to our house or when someone gets too close to her when we are out for a walk (although this is not a constant problem because she is very consumed with other things when out for a walk)

How have you attempted to solve the problem?  I really don't know how - I am reluctant to use a treat because I don't want to inadvertently reward her for growling at someone.

If problem involves biting, has skin been broken?  Not yet

Daily Food Intake: 2 -3 cups

Type of Food: dry dog food

Answer

The answer is indeed in food.  Use her favorite treats, and get creative to discover new ones.  Anything soft and stinky works well, and only PEA-SIZED pieces are necessary so you may spend some time chopping/ripping or otherwise reducing the size of most treats.  I use anything from cat treats, tuna, roast beef, bologna, hot dogs, cheese, chicken, dog treats like Canine Carryouts, liver treats, Puperoni, etc.  Just make sure they are tiny pieces. 

If your dog is particularly food motivated you can use plain dog food, or you can mix the items above into her regular dry food at a ratio which keeps her very very interested no matter what the distraction.  Either way, stop free-feeding if you are (don't leave food on floor more than 5 minutes per meal; pick it up and save it for the next meal.  This will cause her to eat better at each meal as well as pay better attention when you offer treats.)

Now, any time anyone comes to the house, the bar is open.  Keep the very best stuff near the front door at a height she can't attain, and make your guests grab a few treats and drop them on the floor near her whenever they come over.  Even if you have to hold her back by her collar when people enter.  You may treat her as well.  Don't be stingy.  The point of this is to teach her "When visitors come, great things happen".  Yes, you are correct:  It seems counterproductive to treat her when she is growling/nipping but as you undoubtedly understand these are fear reactions and over time she will fear less and growl/nip less to never.  In short time you will find that she is getting treats when she is quiet as well as when she is growling

After a time (probably a few weeks) when you're beginning to observe less fear response, then you may start to treat her only when she is NOT growling or nipping.  Make sure you praise her generously when she is not aggressing, along with the treats.  If she gets nervous and acts out, simply stop treating and praising her. 

Keeping "the bar open" in the first few weeks is easy for you and the dog; it simply teaches her that everyone is happy and life is good when people visit. 

Do your best not to punish or scold her for growling.  This is her only way of communicating "Back off!", and the last thing she does before she bites.  Rather, hear her growls as the warning they are, and make sure people do back off when she growls.  There is little worse than a biter who gives no warning.   However, it is extremely important that you are holding "bar is open" sessions regularly so that her need to growl diminishes.  If all she sees is people backing off as a reaction to her growl (and never gains confidence around them), the growling and nipping will actually increase in frequency.  You can only allow the growling to be her safety net IF you are actively working at increasing her confidence around guests and other visitors.

Also, and very important:  Do not coddle fear reactions.  We humans tend to pet and verbally comfort a dog when we see that they are scared.  Stop!  This is interpreted by her to mean you like her response.  Ignore what you don't like, praise/treat what you do.

Age 2 is invariably when I get most of my emails and phone calls from dog owners who wonder why their dog has suddenly lost their sense of humor.  Age 2 is when your dog truly enters adulthood and leaves puppyhood.  It is important that you work diligently with her NOW to modify her responses to outsiders.  Otherwise you could very well be looking at a bite lawsuit at some point.  Use your common sense to keep her from anyone whose skin you feel she might break, and work at this in the meantime until you are comfortable with her responses in a wide variety of locations, times of day, situations, different people, etc.

If she still does "puppy mouthing" you have the opportunity to teach her Bite Inhibition with the exercises on our site at http://www.dogdaysusa.com/behaviorcenter_mouthtraining.asp .  These teach her not to break skin when she feels compelled to bite, and breaking skin is what creates lawsuits.

Good luck and let me know how she is doing in another month... I do want to hear about her progress!

Suzanne L. Harris, BSc, CPDT
Dog Days Behavior Center
www.dogdaysUSA.com

Suzanne,

Thank you for you response - This little waif found us and we have grown attached to her so we will attempt to modify her behavior using your tips.

I will let you know how it works,

Thanks again!