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Our rescue dog is generally well behaved, but he seems to be triggered by people standing in the doorway/foyer.
For example, we had guests over the weekend. One of them (a teenager) was standing in the doorway waiting to put her coat away and he kind of lunged at her barking. No snapping, but unhappy barking at her. Our dogwalker reported today that he was barking when she approached the house (he does alert for strangers walking by or being on the porch and I don't necessarily want to discourage that) and she would not enter until he got quiet and sat still. He knows her as she walks him three afternoons a week.
We had a plumber come in to install a sink and the dog seemed very friendly and interested in him until he stood in the doorway. Then he did the bark/lunge. Same with our postal carrier who reached over him to give me a package through the doorway.
We had guests who were rough housing a bit-- teenagers pushing one another away in a playful manner-- and he got very upset and stood between them protecting one of them.
Any suggestions on how to calm this behavior down? We are still learning him. He is a seizure from a neglectful household by animal control, so we don't know much about his past.
Our rescue dog is generally well behaved, but he seems to be triggered by people standing in the doorway/foyer.
For example, we had guests over the weekend. One of them (a teenager) was standing in the doorway waiting to put her coat away and he kind of lunged at her barking. No snapping, but unhappy barking at her. Our dogwalker reported today that he was barking when she approached the house (he does alert for strangers walking by or being on the porch and I don't necessarily want to discourage that) and she would not enter until he got quiet and sat still. He knows her as she walks him three afternoons a week.
We had a plumber come in to install a sink and the dog seemed very friendly and interested in him until he stood in the doorway. Then he did the bark/lunge. Same with our postal carrier who reached over him to give me a package through the doorway.
We had guests who were rough housing a bit-- teenagers pushing one another away in a playful manner-- and he got very upset and stood between them protecting one of them.
Any suggestions on how to calm this behavior down? We are still learning him. He is a seizure from a neglectful household by animal control, so we don't know much about his past.
Maybe you should train the dog that your doorway/hall is not "his place". Teach him that he doesn't belong at the door when someone knocks/rings. Don't leave any toys, bed, or his stuff there, and train him to sit someplace away from the door on command, such as when someone arrives. One of my rescues must have been trained this way by a previous owner. Whenever someone arrived (even me), she would first "announce" them, but then turn away and go to the same spot on the carpet where she could SEE the arrival, wag and wriggle, but not go up to them. Every single time. It was actually pretty cool.
I like that the dog walker didn't come in until he was quiet.
But yeah, teach him to go his "spot" when the doorbell rings and make him stay there. When someone new comes into the house as a guest and is staying for any length of time, have them take the dog on a leash and give him some commands. My now-dead Catahoula only needed to see me greet someone before I let them in for him to become calm, but the dog who came to me with a bite history, I made sure to formally introduce to people who would be coming in and out of my house and give them some leash time with him.
Our rescue dog is generally well behaved, but he seems to be triggered by people standing in the doorway/foyer.
For example, we had guests over the weekend. One of them (a teenager) was standing in the doorway waiting to put her coat away and he kind of lunged at her barking. No snapping, but unhappy barking at her. Our dogwalker reported today that he was barking when she approached the house (he does alert for strangers walking by or being on the porch and I don't necessarily want to discourage that) and she would not enter until he got quiet and sat still. He knows her as she walks him three afternoons a week.
We had a plumber come in to install a sink and the dog seemed very friendly and interested in him until he stood in the doorway. Then he did the bark/lunge. Same with our postal carrier who reached over him to give me a package through the doorway.
We had guests who were rough housing a bit-- teenagers pushing one another away in a playful manner-- and he got very upset and stood between them protecting one of them.
Any suggestions on how to calm this behavior down? We are still learning him. He is a seizure from a neglectful household by animal control, so we don't know much about his past.
Place command or a down-stay in a corner, then correct the barking.
Be careful of with the rough housing. We have a rescue that bit my SIL when she was on the ground rough housing with my other dog.
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