My dog attacks visitors at the door. How do I stop this aggression?

Get him acclimated to people so it isn't a big deal when you have company. Make him "work" for everything (food, attention, walks, etc.). This can be as simple as having him sit or wait before being fed, taken out or played with. When company arrives, make him wait to greet. Do not allow him to initiate contact. Use a leash to control him if necessary. A head harness such as the Gentle Leader or Halti can provide a means to control and quickly correct negative behavior. Ignore him when he barks at company. If he jumps up, turn away from him. Be consistent and be firm. Do not yell as this will likely get him more riled up.

While you may think he "knows he shouldn't do it" that doesn't mean he actually does, or isn't still wanting to do it. It could be that the maid coming by is extremely stressful for him, or he has fear associated with it- especially if you scold him every time. In his mind, he may think maid comes over = I get yelled at, so he tries to shoo away the maid in the hopes he won't be yelled at or scolded. Speaking with a trainer or behaviorist about BAT (Behavioral Adjustment Training) is a good idea. This can help nervous or fearful dogs desensitize to certain stimulus through positive, gradual introductions, rather than forcing him into a fearful situation. Moving him to another room or outside until you can work with a trainer can also help and can keep your maid safe from being bitten if he's actively trying to bite her. Trying to make her coming by a positive experience instead of a fearful one may also help. When she comes by, have her toss him a treat and then ignore him, or give him a special Kong or toy filled with his favorite snacks, so that he begins to associate maid coming over = fun! instead. As aggression is a very complicated issue, I highly recommend working with a trainer or behaviorist in person so that they can observe and work with you to positively change Brownie's behavior. In the US you can find a list of nearby behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

Aggression toward people is a very serious and complicated topic, and one that should be worked with by a local animal behaviorist or trainer in person. It is best to work together to address the root cause behind the biting (fear, uncomfortable in new home, undersocialized, etc) and then work on a training plan together than can ensure both Okami and any visitors remain safe. In the meantime, moving Okami to another room and not having visitors approach, or just tossing a treat if they walk past where he is is best to avoid direct contact and anyone getting hurt. In the US, this site is useful for finding a certified behaviorist near you that can get you started on resolving the issue: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

One way to train him to behave when visitors come is to get him a dog mat. Place it where he can see visitors but not near the door or where they will be sitting. Train him to go to his mat on the command "MAT!" Then teach him to stay there until you release him (use a release word such as "okay" to let him know his stay is over). Enlist friends to do several practice sessions with them acting as guests (start with one at a time). When he is reliable, you can try this with actual guests. If you need more help with this, you can click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

Aggression is a very complex issue that is a bit more to handle than the scope of questions on here! If Rocky is being aggressive toward people that come to visit, and is growling, attempting to bite them, etc, I highly recommend seeking out a trainer or animal behaviorist near you that can help. Usually, aggression and other issues where the dog is very reactive require the supervision of a professional to create a tailored training plan to help desensitize your dog to the trigger in a safe manner for both your dog and you and your guests. (Behavioral Adjustment Training, or BAT is one technique used.) In the meantime, separating Rocky from your guests if he does attempt to bite, or having your guests ignore him completely to prevent stressing him out further may help until you can see a trainer.

I recommend having Lilly in the crate when people come over. When they are inside and settled then let her out of the crate to greet them. They should not focus on her just continue socially with you. If she's calm they can pat her but I wouldn't do anything to get her excited. Over time she'll learn that when she's under control she can be with visitors. If she gets too excited then I would put her outside or back into the crate, This is not punishment per se but rather a time out until she can control her behavior. Training her will take time and patience but it will be worth the effort when you have a well behaved companion. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Lilly.

Many dogs get very excited when visitors come to the door! I would recommend asking guests to call ahead for now when they are coming over, so that you can put Vesta on a leash before they arrive. Use the leash to keep her under control, and use treats to reward her for sitting or other calm behavior. Once she calms down a bit, your visitors can also ask her to sit for treats and petting. It takes lots of time and patience to work on this issue, so be patient with Vesta while she learns! Ideally, I would also recommend finding a good reward-based trainer in your area who can work with you in person to make sure you're making progress - you can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org