Going crazy at door!
 

Problems with my angel baby Chibi are few and far between but boy do we have a doozy! So for I dunno how long Chibi gets super excited/ angry at door knocking and doorbell ringing. Weird side note- we've never even had a doorbell, he hears them on TV and goes crazy. Anyhow, it's not been that much of an issue until lately. In the last month he has bit DH twice on the leg! One time he left a pretty good bite mark and it bruised. We have a gate in front of our door to prevent escapees and as DH steps over the gate Chibi goes for him. He hasn't done it to me but I usually don't answer the door. What is the best training things I can teach him here? I dunno why the door upsets him so, I've had him since a pup and he's never been traumatized by visitors. This problems seems to be escalating quickly so I want to nip it in the butt. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

Have you tried training him to 'sit/stay' before going to the door? If he follows you or DH stop and turn and make him back off and sit before continuing to the door. Good boy/treat for good behavior. If he's really 'off the hook' you may have to practice with a leash on him to prevent being bitten.

The training is not going so well. I am trying but he gets so much more upset when strangers are at the door than when we practice. He bit me today :( I am heartbroken. I know he is just a dog doing a dog thing but I dunno, I thought we had a special bond. I would give everything for him...and he bit me. I don't know what to do anymore.

Here are some thoughts to use or not if you think they might be helpful for your dog. It sounds as if he's just reacting in fear and aggression in protecting his territory and anyone coming into it from outside - things inbred in him so don't take it personally. I know that's hard but remember, his humans have helped make him the way he is now and he's just reacting in the way he knows how. He's territorial and anxious about something. There may be a new dog in the neighborhood whose scent is upsetting him or he's been badly frightened or seriously unsettled by something - some happening - while you weren't there. But you can fix him though there's likely not a quick fix in the books for him at this point but you will get there.

I'd immediately start him on one of the Nothing In Life Is Free programs so that absolutely everything in life he needs or wants to live comes from complying with some command you issue and his doing his sit or down is how he gets his meals, toys, jumping onto the couch or bed to be with you, to go outside to potty, anything and everything. The message the dog gets is my guardian is a leader who has total control of me and if I keep her happy and do what she wants, my life will be better and I'll be happier. Plus, he'll see you getting a new sense of leadership and begin to trust in you more to take charge of the situation and keep him safe. Dogs who feel safe and in the company of strong leaders don't ever feel the need to get territorial or possessive of spaces. And dogs love the program - they love to perform for things they want - it shows that they can accomplish and work for their resources. They usually really get into the program and can't wait to perform!

You can leash him if you think that gives him more security in your leadership and control but bear in mind, a leashed dog often feels trapped by the leash and if he's the least bit fearful, he might feel his ability to escape his fears has been taken from him and lash out in a bite if he feels cornered or too restrained. I don't normally leash dogs during this type of rehabilitation except in very particular circumstances as it can make them more anxious if you aren't a strong leader and the dog have lots of faith in your ability to be strong and keep him safe. That's why sometimes two leashed dogs are often so tense and unfriendly to each other when meeting - each feels restrained by his leash and worries that the other dog might jump him and knows he's totally at that dog's mercy thanks to the leash.

Further and this is very important, completely bar his access to the living room by any means necessary, using gates or large pieces of board of whatever it takes to prevent his accessing the living room for this training period of time. In time, you can briefly leash him for retraining manners at the door but that is a way down the road from now.

Start him on obedience training x5 mins., x2 daily, and keeping the training upbeat and fun for him with lots of positive reinforcement when he gets a command right-. Obedience training is soooooo important in helping restore a dog's sense of self-confidence and impulse control.

Teach him "leave it", "Wait", "Stop"(when running to you during a recall, etc. ) and all of the other things that obedient dogs normally learn. He'll love it and begin to get a handle on learning to obey you when you give him a command and he'll begin to love the positive feedback when he does the right thing and you reward and praise him. He'll begin, over time, to want to obey you and to bask in your pride in his accomplishments. All of these things help a dog having territorial issues to settle down and begin to give way to his trainer/leader.

People so underestimate the power of obedience training to help a dog in trouble when it is so often the greatest key we have to slowly getting the dog back on track.

Yeah mine is horrible too barking And running between me and the door. I just pick him up, he's trying to protect territory and you. You could put him on a leash and get him to sit beside you. We don't get much company so no big deal for me. I can see where it would be annoying if you have a lot of traffic.