Hi everyone, hope you can help, We have a 17 week old Shar Pei, who I might add is beautiful(Lola) she's very obedient and has been able to sit, stay, fetch, leave, give alternate paw for weeks now but we have this huge problem of when anyone comes to the door, she immedietly starts barking which is fine, I know thats quite normal, but once you open the door she practically attacks the person, growling and snarling she stops herself once she realises she knows them but it's becoming a real problem with the postman and strangers We have tried the ignore her bit and have told everybody we know to ignore her when they come in and that seems to be working for the regular visitors, I know its probably the stranger things as shes the same when she meets a stranger on the street, but she's so cute people do want to stroke her and we caintl let them for fear of her biting them (and belive me she does) We have just signed up for 'doggy school' and she seemed a little better, well she didnt bite anybody, but then again she was terrified with all the other dogs/puppies there so she may have just been to traumatized to bite anyone! Should I buy a door bell? and what about the stranger on the street? maybe this would confuse her enough? Any help would be a godsend, Many thanks in advance

Do you ever tell her what you *do* want her to do when somebody comes to the door?  Perhaps a training session to teach her that she goes to her bed and thereby receives a reward is in order?

We have tried, the sit and stay, but literally as soon as the door is open she off, snapping and snarling, we now have to hold her back with her collar, I don't like to shout to many commands at her as I know she would get confused, she knows, Lola sit, Lola stay and she does it beautifully, but then as i say she just goes for them as soon as the door is open, this morning the delivery man came and I had to sign for a parcel, I had to hold her head between my legs! while i signed.

This could be a combination of fear and over excitement.  Tos start with I would shut her away when yiou open the front door,a nd then let her into the room once visitors are seated, and ask them to igniore her, and with luck she will igniore them until she feels braver.

I am concerned at such a young pup being so fearful of people.  Was she not properly socialised by the breeder and sicne you brought her home?

Most normal pups will be retiscent of starngers but allowed to come round to it will welcome attention from people as they should only ever have had pleasant associations with them since birth.

I would try and arrange for a friend to come and help you with training sessions, so she can learn in a more relaxed atmosphere what it the most rewarding thing to do when visitors call - it's no good waiting for callers to come and hoping to do it that way - you have a specfic situation you want to train her to, then try and reproduce that situation when it's under your control.  Can you fasten a lead to something near the door that you can tie her to?

Hi Vicky,

You've been give some sound advice by the other posters but I'm concerned that much of your pup's worrying behaviour leads you to assume he will definitely go on to bite.  In my experience Shar Pei's are not a breed for everyone - training techniques which often work well with most breeds don't necessarily apply to the more Oriental breeds who can be much more aloof and determined. 

Have you contacted the puppy's breeder for advice?  Firstly I think you have to keep the puppy away from the front door entirely - regardless of the caller being known or a random delivery man/woman.  While you are unable to fix a problem, there is a danger of embedding it by allowing it to continue as you are now.  Try and establish from the breeder how much and what type of socialisation had been done prior to your getting the puppy and ask breed specific advice when you've fully described the problems you are having.

Please don't take this to mean that you shouldn't seek additional advice here or from similar forums, but I think with such a strong willed and frequently mindful breed as you've chosen that you should go back to the roots first.

HTH,
Regards & good luck, Teri ;) 

Surely it's better to assume a dog is capable of biting, than to be lulled into a false sense of security and be taken by surprise?  Ofcourse, the owner has to make sure that this tension isn't being transfered to the dog, which is why using a lead tied to a solid object is a good idea, as this tension travels down the lead and through the collar so easily.

I think you've misunderstood the point or at least phrasing of my post Digger.

That aside, I would never advocate tying up a frightened or potentially aggressive animal as you describe.  Why on earth would anyone force a nervous dog to confront it's fears at all never mind ensure that it has no means of escape?   The dog does not HAVE to go with her to answer the door :rolleyes:  Brainless pointed this out very well.

Continual enforced exposure to a frightening experience is cruel and far more likely to ensure the dog's capability of biting is tested :(   The OP is seeking advice on how best to handle a situation that sounds in part from her description and in part from the specific breed as though she may need more specific help than can be offered on a forum such as this.  In the interim it is safer  to avoid potentially confrontational situations with this youngster.

Regards, Teri  

I didn't say anything about forcing the dog to confront its fears Teri, I mearly suggested using the lead to restrain the dog without the tension from the owner transmitting itself.  We don't actually *know* this dog is fearful.........

You're right Digger, we don't *know* the dog is actually fearful - but you advocate it being wiser to "assume" THIS dog is capable of biting.  Although the OP to be fair clearly feels this way too.  I think it unwise to play guessing games or employ escape proof tactics with a dog that is either fearful or agressive or both.  This is just a youngster but as we all know much damage can be done with inappropriate techniques being employed when dealing with a temperament problem.  Hence the reason for my recommending this poster attempts to get breed specific advice, preferably from the breeder. 

I can see no advantage in the absence of being able to actually witness the behaviour (and attempting to assess the cause or catalyst) of this dog being taken to meet whoever is knocking the door.  The owner at present clearly does not have control of the dog in that situation and in the absence of on the spot assessment by someone more knowledgable in behaviour or the breed itself it is potentially dangerous for her to continue to follow that course.  We're not talking about the usual advice given out for typical puppy misdemeanours of jumping up, attention seeking etc so I believe it wiser to err on the side of caution. :)

Regards, Teri

I thank you all for your comments and advice, I truly belive we can overcome this with a little pacience! She's only been to puppy school once and we feel this will benefit her enormously with the socilasation side of things, there were at least 30 dogs and puppies there and althoguht she was scared at first, she did warm to the puppies and owners next to her by the end of the session, so we are ever hopeful. Anyway thanks for the advice and I will keep you posted on how things are going. 

'Puppy School' is a very different organisation to the one you've attended - there is a maximum of 8 puppies, aged up to 20 weeks.  30 dogs all in one place sounds like bedlam to me.....