My dog barks on some people and not on others... On top of his lungs!!HELP
 

hi,

My dog is fairly calm, except when he hears people walking in the hallway (we live in a 4 apartment condo building)... He is fine with most people, new people. But, there are hand full people that every time he sees them (they come over), he absolutely goes nuts!! He barks on top of his lungs, loses his voice, and sometime even pees himself. Many times, i was thinking that it might have been of being frightful of one particular person, but he does it from time to time with others... I don't really know what is up with him, and what i should do.. I don't know if he senses something in these particular people, or what. In a way, i am mostly concerned about his state when he gets like this, i am worried for his health (heart)...

Does anyone else experience this? and if so, what do you do to resolve it? if not, can some one please provide some insight..

He is now 2.3 yrs old, and he has been going through this last yr. I am not sure if obedience classes would work, I was considering your a water bottle, to spray him. But, it's almost like it's an internal feeling that he is barking, and he just can't seem to calm himself down until these people leave...

Thanks for ur help!

Is it the arrival of the people or the people themselves. Harley goes nutts when people are outside our apartment and when the doorbell goes he goes crazy. My trainer told me to teach him that the doorbell means "go lay down in your crate" apparently, if done right it's the same as teaching a verbal cue. I guess you start by teaching down, then a cue for go lay down in your crate, then have someone ring the bell while you cue lay down in your bed. practice and apparently it works. I'm trying that.

If it's the people, there could be many things, but I'd work first on their arrival. Maybe they are bringing in a lot of energy for the dog, and he gets excited. Try having a no look no touch rule for people coming in, until the dog is calm (yeah I know sounds like Cesar) But it really works for crazy hyper dogs sometimes. The moment they calm down then give praise and acknowledge them. Maybe he is scared of them, in which I would try to personally body block the people from the dog to give a sense of security. My trainer said that sometimes these guys are just so small that they depend on us to protect them. She recommends for the initial meet and greet to pick small dogs up, so that they are on the same level with people.

Those are my thoughts, maybe one of them will help. Also obedience classes never hurt. I'm planning on competing/becoming a trainer but even if I wasn't I've learned a lot in my puppy class just experiencing it with Harley.