I have had some problems over this past couple of months, he was allways a bit wary of people coming into the house but started snapping as he got braver, I got some training discs but I have a catatastrophy after useing them once on Sat. he was terrified when my other half threw them and now he will not come into the room and seems very nervouse with me, can anyone give me some advice, I thought thse discs were good, has anyone else had anything like this?
Please suggest something, thanks.

Like all training methods you need to know how to use them, and training discs are no exception. Would say, but would need to see the situation to be sure, that your dog is scared and worried about people coming to the door and the sound of the clatter of dics's will make matters worse, the dog need his confidence built up. Do not take what I have said as gospel as no one who is not there can know for sure, perhaps you should think about calling in a trainer, if you do decide to go this route then let us know and we will suggest how you should go about finding one.

From what I understand of training discs (someone pls correct me if I'm wrong!), then really should not be used on dogs of a nervous disposition because they can actually make the dog even worse - as I think you might just have found out.  For a dog with the type of personality you are describing, positive reinforcement methods would possibly be more effective such as clicker training. 

I would recommend however talking to a specialist trainer for assistance at home where the trainer can fully assess the dogs AND your behaviour and work out a training programme for you.  The results will not be immediate and require patience, continuous reinforcement and dedication but the end results generally are totally worth it, for yourself and your dog.  You don't say what breed you have...but if you decided to go down this route, it maybe preferable to speak with a trainer who specialises in your breed as that breed may have its own idiosynchrasies (sp?) that a more general trainer will not fully understand or appreciate.  I'm sure someone on here could recommend establishments or particular trainers who could help you.

Good luck.

That he's snapping, but worried sounds like he may be a fear biter and you'll need to muster a lot of patience. In your daily routine, make sure than things don't frighten him. But make sure he knows you're his leader, but always in a gentle manner at the same time.

Does he know any commands like sit, stay, down, heel? Have him do something periodically throughout the day for a treat. Have him sit and wait before you set his food bowl down. Just little things will help to reiterate that you're guiding him. It sounds like he needs his confidence built up. A little game of tug, letting him win helps. Obedience training helps. Do some fun things out in the yard that take some skill from him, like jumping over a low jump that you can rig up or retrieving a ball. When he accomplishes some new task, that all helps him to be more confident in himself. I think it sounds like that could be whats bothering him.

Then get him around new situations, but gradually and gently.

Try relying more on positive reinforcement rather than frightening the dog by throwing things at him. Have one person come to the house with some yummy treats and all sit down for a little chat to get him comfortable with that. Then another time, have a couple of people do the same. Introduce things slowly, but introduce them. Make it cheerful and rewarding. Don't make a fuss if the dog is cowering when the people come in. Wait till he has a moment of relative calm and then treat and praise. If the dog is sensative, you'll need to use an especially gentle approach. That's my take on it. I could be wrong as I'm not there to see the dog. I'm just going by what I interrpret from your post.

I hope things will be all right. Good luck.

Carrie

I hope eevrything turns out alright in the end, give him time, in the meantime maybe try Bachs flower remedy. To be honest I have heard so many incidents of them frightening dogs I would never recomend them, but, just try not to let him sense youre own anxiety that will add to it.
I hope soon it will be ok.

Thank you all for your replies and help, it makes me feel better, I felt so guilty.
I took him to the vets this morning and burst into tears but he was very good, he says he never recomends them (he means the rubbish in the bin) and has given me some sedatives, he says to start feeding him at the door of the room and slowly in BUT to leave treats near the door and se if he comes in and guess what he seems to be a lot easier, he has already come in and seems ok, I myself feel a bit nervous but my vet made me feel a lot better.
Thanks everyone.

It sounds like things are going to look up. Things will turn around with your very gentle and patient treatment and I think the vet has some good ideas. It's going to be all right.

Are the sedatives for you or the dog? Lots of times when I go to the vet, I'm so nervous about this and that, that he offers me a valium. One of these times I'll take him up on it. LOL.

Carrie

your dog is obviously uncomfortable with strangers in the house; you do not mention if he behaves in the same way outside?

Classical conditioning would be the way to work with your dog ie in other words you need the dog to associate strangers with his most favourite thing, whether that be a toy, game or food.  Every time a stranger comes in that is when this favourite thing appears; and it must appear at NO OTHER TIME.

You will need to start off gently perhaps with a stranger just appearing at the door way or even further if the dog indicates it is stressed by his body language etc.  Don't tell the dog off for any barking, or snapping (although you will be tempted); the dog must just associate the presence of strangers with the presence of its fave thing.

Eventually you will be able to decrease distance, and increase duration and density eg get people closer, for longer and more than one stranger but it must be done very gradually.

HTH

I just want to say thank you to everyone, he is ok now especialy after spending last week in Norfolk, I did think we would have to cancel when it happened.
No he is not partiulary nervouse with people, he is from a marriage breakup home and we dont think there was a good relationship between any of them.
When someone comes in he has no problem but he does not like being fussed, he is fine and just about ignores people if they ignore him, preferes to be left alone. We have thought about it and it is only the people who come in and go straight up to and over him that there has been a problem with, so we are telling people to ignore him before they come in, but never again will allow anything like those training discs, it just shows what can happen with so called behaviour modifiers, nothing more than expensive bits of tin, long since in the bin.
Thanks again everyone.