This problem is now getting to me as i dont understand why she behaves like it or to how to solve it. With christamas coming and having family to stay i am dreading it all ready.
The situation is I have 5 dogs not all the same breed, my youngest is 3 and is a terrier. When anyone comes into the house she non stop barks and chases up to them and either goes for thier feet or tries to jump up and bite/grab their hands, its not playful. she does this when the other dogs are also in the room BUT if i let her greet people on her own she isn't so bad and soon settles down.

If she hears voices other than ours and she is shut away or behind the child gate she goes ballistic, barking jumping at the gate, biting it etc. We have to tell guests not to put thier hands over the gate cos she will bite. If shes behind a glass door she snaps at the glass, she is very persistant and does not quieten down for some time. If i let her in on her own she will charge up to guests and bark but if they stay still she calms down but if i let all dogs intogether she is horrible.

we have had builders here since the august and she has seen the same ones over and over but she is still the same with them after all this time. the carpenter came in yesterday so left her out on her own in the kitchen while he came in (he knew not to speak to her or touch her) she never bothered with him, just laid down like a good little dog, after a while i had to let the others in and she went all barky at him and when i put her away she was barking like mad behind the gate. She came back in after being quiet and all well til i left the room and she grab hold of his trouser bottoms, being angry with him.
He is back this morning and she went mad when she saw him through the door.

She does the same with my daughters friends even though she has seen them many times, everyone is now frightend of her and with MIL coming for a week i just dont know what to do as i cant keep her shut away all the time as its not fair on her and cant keep the others shut away for the same reasons. Once guests are in the kitchen and she calms down if they leave and return to the room she just starts over again!

can someone help shed light on her behaviour and how to deal with please???
used a behavourist earlier this year and did a good manners course but made much difference.

Can't help, I'm afraid, but I have a similar problem with both my two dogs - although the older one would be better if by himself :( The whole thing has got a lot worse in the last 15 months. We are renovating our house and have had builders in for weeks/months at a time. Partly because of safety and the builders fear of dogs :) we have to shut the dogs away in our bedroom (the only room that has a door on it). This hasn't helped matters as the dogs think that they are being kept away and so have gradually got worse. I am hoping that when we get back to normal and start living downstairs and have some doors etc, I can get the dogs back to behaving 'normally' with visitors, but I'm not sure what is the best way to do it ? Perhaps keeping them on a lead while introducing them - but not all visitors want to 'help' the process as they are afraid of dogs :(

Daisy

glad i'm not the only one! but it has made feel that i dont want her as it does affect my family. I bred her myself so am gutted she is like it, not had a dog like her before.

I have tried putting her on a lead when people come in but this makes her 10 times worse - she looks and acts so vicious with her barking and snapping and gets so worked up.

> as i cant keep her shut away all the time as its not fair on her

Sorry to sound harsh, but it's not fair on visitors for her to be attacking them. I would have no hesitation shutting a bad mannered dog out of the way to keep guests safe.
I will be having guests for Christmas dinner, I know my dog is going to get excited and probably forget his manners and try to jump all over them - allthough he means no harm, this behaviour is unacceptable, so if he is not on his best behaviour he will be shut out of the way until he remebers his manners.

Dogs, allthough much loved family members are still dogs. Allowing them to behave in an unaceptable way only re-enforces that behaviour so untill you have found a way to re-train her out of this behaviour (a good behaviourist that will tackle the issue) then she should be shut away from guests so as not to cause injury.

> everyone is now frightend of her

Again, I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but if I posted about my Mastiff going for guests and saying 'it's not fair on him to shut him away' I would be shot down in flames. Just because a dog is small should not give it the right to frighten, attack and intimidate people.

I would keep her close on a lead, or completly away.
My boy is like this too, I tell people and ask them to ignore him altogether not even any glance towards him.........however other people often insist...much to my chagrin...they ignore me and push towards him because he is small.
It is frustrating but you do need to keep her seperate from people. This is what I do.

Karen :)

I think you could do with some help from a good behaviourist. The first thing I'd want to find out is if this dog is acting like this out of fear, or guarding behaviour. Fear can so often look like aggression but deep down it's a worried dog that figures she is safer if she attacks first. So yes, do shut her away for everyone's sake, but then try to get some help.

Have you tried crating her when visitors arrive.  This way her movements are restricted so less means of getting worked up as they do if ruining to and fro.

My neighbours nervous JRT attacks it's sister like this when the door bell goes, or there is any excitement fortunately the sister is very phlegmatic.

If the behaviour is fear/anxiety induced more socialisation would be the key.  Taking her out to busy places and having her greet lots of people (assuming she isn't aggressive to them outside the home).  At home she feels the need or brave enough to see them off/boss them about.

Hi,

I would think this is likely out of fear (dogs can often not 'appear' afraid and go on the defence) but it's impossible to tell via a forum you really need someone in to assess the situation.  In the meantime don't let the dog practise this behaviour as it will just become more ingrained and also it's proving effective to the dog so it is reinforcing.  I would try take the dog outside on a lead to greet people so that it it is in a different environment as she is going to be well practised at this now so it gives her more space will help remove the territorial aspect if that is part of it and makes it less pressured and then you all go back in the house together.  Ask guests not to interact with her at all ie, not even giving eye contact or talking to her as if there is a fear element it will just make her more uncomfortable.

Then when you go inside I would pop her behind a baby gate with something high value that can keep her occupied, ie a stuffed kong or something like that.  Really though you need to deal with the underlying problem for which you need someone who can see whats going on and will advise the best course of action.  Make sure you get someone who is experienced and up to date, is using modern and positive methods.

My eldest GSD goes balistic when we have visitors, barking and circling them and seeming very intimadating. For many years I have tried to stop him and tried pretty much everything but now its just of case of keeping him behind a stairgate, when he settles he is allowed out, if he doesnt settle he stays in the utility room.  He isnt just guarding, he is stressed aswell so for his wellbeing and my visitors peace of mind we will continue to do this.  If I have any very knowledgeable visitors from either training club or friend who is a behaviourist, he is allowed out as they know how to be around him and sometimes he settles. I would certainly seek a behaviourist to assist you as all dogs are different.  My other GSD who has grown up with him and my young rotty behaves impecably around everyone so atleast he has not taught them to behave this way. 
Sorry its not an answer but sometimes knowing that you are not alone with this sort of thing can help. 

never experience this with any of the dogs I have owned.
I would probably crate her, begin  crate training now as you havent much time left the fact that she is a small breed makes it easier as a large crate will give her plenty of room keep her in the rooms where your guests will be so she doesnt feel seperated then your guest can at least feel safe walking around your house from room to room without being nipped (at least until she has calmed down).Other than that you may have to board her for the christmas period . Then begin a socialisation  and behaviorist (different behaviourist) training next year as I think it is too late to try anything with christmas upon us.

thank you for all the replies.

I do know what your saying about shutting her away but i said it was not fair all the time as she would be permanently in the utility for about 5 days as guests will forget not to go in the kitchen without us to put her away first.

I do cage her when poeple are hear but she non stop barks as she can hear thier voices, if she's not caged dhe then jumps and trieds to bite the glass in the door. Eventually after a long time she gives up and goes to sleep. Its such a shame because once she is happy with them she will settle, its just that she seems forget who they are if they leave the room and then come back in. Impossible to get her to meet people outside first as they are staying with us plus if you get one lead out they all think they're going out! She's ok outside the home but not keen being stroked, she will move away.

I do have a bigger cage so might try her in that in the kitchen so she can be with us but not round guests feet. The main problem is when the other dogs are with her, it causes her to be like it 10 times more. She is definitley better if people are already in the room and then she is let in after. All is ok if they stay still!

I dont want anyone to be bitten so i know i have to keep her away or always be around to shut her away.

I have people come in and i tell them not to speak to the dogs til they have settled but some just dont listen, they cant resist talking to the dogs thinking this will calm them! I also get mad with some non doggy friends as we only let our dogs in the kitchen and utility (large rooms) so if they see a door slightly open for longer than normal they make a super quick exit to the rest of the house - why cant people understand that when you say come in quick and shut door thats what you mean!!

Maybe i'm just getting stressed out as its getting close to christmas and i still have masses to do, and the thought of mother in law for 5 days doesn't thrill me.

Think i will try another behaviourist after christmas.

Impossible to get her to meet people outside first as they are staying with us plus if you get one lead out they all think they're going out! She's ok outside the home but not keen being stroked, she will move away.

So when they arrive to stay with you why can't you go outside with her to greet them and all come in together, even if it doesn't help fdor the whole stay it may help her feel a little more relaxed when everyone arrives which will be a lot for her to deal with.  The other getting excited about it being walk time isn' really a reason not to do it, pop them int he kitchen with something to eat while you go out and greet, or have her lead ready at the door or have it outside the front door.

It sounds like she's worried by people outside if she's shying away but just feels less of the need to react because she's in more open space which is quite common.

With regards to visitors not listening to you, I appreciate people don't always listen but you need to suprvise her while she is out and make sure they don't talk to her or touch her, keep her on a lead and next to you if needed!

Can you have the cage in view of the kitchen door so she can see the people, as if it is fear related, which it does sound like then it may help as knowing there are things you are scared of in the house but not being able to see them can be more stressful for some dogs.

I also get mad with some non doggy friends as we only let our dogs in the kitchen and utility (large rooms) so if they see a door slightly open for longer than normal they make a super quick exit to the rest of the house - why cant people understand that when you say come in quick and shut door thats what you mean!!

Just a suggestion, but if you put a baby/dog gate there, it would remind your 'non doggy' visitors to shut the door - especially if they have to work out how to open it !!
Get one that has a spring to close it. You won't have to worry about the kitchen door being left open then.

so could it be a fear type aggression or protection of her space and other dogs or even jealousy of the other dogs getting attention from visitors??

I am telling you the method I used I that helped my fearful dog to feel more confident and less threatened by strangers, but of course any advice should be used with caution because I cannot possibly tell over the internet if these methods would be appropriate for your dog. The best advice of course, is to seek the advice of a good behaviorist who uses positive training methods.

If it is through fear or lack of socialisation your dog reacts there are some things you possibly can try. I would start by strengthening your bond with her. Take her away from the other dogs for individual training and walks and focus on training her to keep her attention on you. Lots of treats and/or praise and/or play to motivate her do what you want. Once you have managed to get her to reliably stop what she is doing and focus on you in a variety of situations, from boring to exciting, take her to people on lead and get her to wait next to you while you talk to them and then walk away. You will need to make sure you don't start right next to them because this will make her feel uncomfortable, you will have to slowly build up how close you can get to people. Strangers must not talk to your dog, touch your dog or look at her. You must be firm about this. Your dog needs to know she can trust you to take control so she doesn't feel the need to. I would do this until she was comfortable and was able to relax while you did this, then I would move on to allowing her to approach the people once she had followed the same routine of waiting next to you, and the stranger could drop treats for her so there is a positive association to strangers, i.e. behaving calmly around strangers means they give you tasty things. The strangers still should not speak to her, touch her or look at her. When she has managed this outside the house and is confident with it, you could start with visitors to your home. Take her out on the lead to greet them (it is neutral ground) get her waiting calmly and then allow her to approach to greet and the visitor can drop treats for the dog. The visitor should then be seen as less threatening and can come into your home. Once in they could continue dropping treats, your dog should be kept on lead so you still have control in case she worries. If she did you could get her attention on you and get her to focus on you before the stranger starts dropping treats again. It would take a long time, but she will start to learn you will decide who is safe not her and she should start to become more relaxed for a few reasons, you have taken charge and protect her and shown her that you will look after her and that you won't allow the bad/stressed/territorial behavior and also because she will associate strangers with good things (really tasty treats).

I don't know if this will help because I obviously don't know if fear or lack of socialisation is the cause for your dog's behaviour. But nevertheless, starting giving her more one-to-one time with you and focus training definitely can't harm. Just remember that everything needs to be very positive and fun for her. Don't get frustrated, things take time.

Whatever you do over christmas, you should not allow your dog to greet visitors the way she does. She might make a fuss, but keeping her seperate is what you should do to keep visitors safe and so you don't reinforce the behaviour. The more you allow it, the more normal and acceptable it will become to her. By allowing her to greet people the way she does you are actually letting her think it is ok to behave that way. This isn't fair on her because it means you are teaching her she is right to be stressed about visitors and stangers.