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Aggresive To Visitors


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My boys were adopted nearly two years ago. They are from the same litter but with very different characters. J is a buddy to everyone he meets. However, Z is more unsure of strangers. Z is fine outside when strangers offered to pet him ( meet and greet, park) but sometimes if a stranger looks him in the eyes, he growls.

 

Our problem is also...Z is very much a guard dog at home. He is fine to family members, even my brother in law who visits once or twice a year. But he goes nuts when a stranger comes to the house. Even my husband's best friend who has visited us a few times ( a few months apart tho). He growls and one time nipped at my husband's best friend's butt ( :P )

 

I tried to put a leash on him ( loose) and gave him kong filled with PB. He works on the kong but then still cannot be relaxed and friendly. What should I do to make him behave. I don's ask him to be friendly but at least not be aggressive.

 

 

Thank you!

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The simplest answer is to simply baby gate him into another room.

 

I'm not sure how you'd CHANGE this behavior ('cause if he only acts this way with "strangers," it's someone he doesn't know, and I'm not sure how you change a dog's essential nature like that) but it's easy enough to prevent it.


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Susan,  Hamish,  Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck

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Guest lvl0cmr

I don't know if this will work for you but I can tell you what a visitor means to my hounds. Pizza crust. Their favorite food in the world is pizza crust. When the doorbell rings they go nuts (in a happy way). If it is the pizza man they continue to be excited, if it is anyone else they lose interest pretty fast. Maybe you could try having someone ring the doorbell and when you go to open it give the dogs a treat. Then they will associate someone at the door with getting treats. Kind of the old Pavlov's dog experiment, ring a bell and they'll salivate. Worth a shot?

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Guest Greyt_dog_lover

Has your hound had a full blood workup specifically to check thyroid? Unusual aggression can manifest itself as a result of thyroid issues. After a checkup, if it is in fact behavioral, then positive reinforcement from strangers would be what would probably be most effective for him. As stated by others here, treats given by people that he doesn't know would work. BTW direct extended eye contact is a sign of aggression. If he does checkout healthy, I would ask your group for a behavior specialist they recommend to help you with your specific situation. I don't think your situation will be that difficult to remedy, but will take some dedication and hard work on your part. Good luck.

 

Chad

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Thank you all for your suggestions. I gave Z a frozen Kong with PB when we have visitors. If Z seems to be calm ( relatively) I asked the visitors to toss a few kibbles on the ground and Z will eat the treat that way ( with me holding the leash loosely). We will also work on the "look at that" method when on the walks.

 

I may have the only guard greyhound in the world but we will work with Z and take him the way he is. I will also appreciate if anyone has similar experience to share their thoughts.

 

Thank you!

 

Z's Mom

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