I wondered if anyone had any theories on why some dogs will let visitors into the home and be happy about them being there until they get up to leave and then they want to eat them!
Has anyone experienced this?
I am currently completing a behaviour and psychology course on canine behaviour and have decided to research this topic. 
Anything that you think or have gone through then please let me know.

I have a friend with a Shitzu that doesn't like people leaving.......he's a real ankle nipper......don't have any theories but he's lovely the rest of the time.

Hayley x

Edited to add, I will ask my friend for more info when I see her tomorrow and post on this thread.

Yes one of my boxers does this she is fine with anyone in the house,but when they come to leave she sits at the bottom of the stairs waiting to pounce, she even does it when my son goes out...she doesnt actually bite but just gives the impression she will do...

Does she have any other behaviour issues or is it just this one thing?
Can you describe an incident for me if you don't mind that is?  Does there appear to be a time when she moves to the bottom of the stairs - is it when they stand to leave or when you start to say goodbye?

Hi deaks no she has no other issues she is used to being handled by different people as she is campaigned almost every week at shows..she has the most fabulous temperament.its just as visitors are leaving she likes to get to the stairs.If i was to open the door then let who ever out she doesnt have this problem,

Two of the service users that I visit have dogs that are okay with visitors but get growly/snappy when the unsuspecting visitor goes to leave.  I always assumed it was because the dogs didn't get enough stimulation/company from their owners and didn't want potential company/fun person to leave them to their boring existences.

I used to know a dog that did this.

Tellingly, she was left for 8/9 hours a day or more and was incredibly stressed, to the point where she had licked her feet raw.

I did try to say something but they just stuck a bucket collar on her and shut her in the utility room when people were leaving.

Em

I went to visit an old lady and her dog nipped the back of my leg on the way out.  I eventually started taking this dog for walks because the relative who used to do it died.  Penny turned out to be very nervous, running home if we saw anything unusual and having to be coaxed to walk further each time but then happily walking that distance the next time.  I think she was fairly agitated when people came to the house, so all the carers used to have their handbags full of biscuits to give her.  She did not like being handled eg having ear drops put in, when she would growl and show her teeth.  Years before, when she was spayed, she destroyed her bedding at the vets and I think she may have chewed one of the mats in the kitchen near that back door.  When her owner died, she would not let the relatives into the house - she was extremely fearful.  (And so were they!)

The bite came as I was opening the back door to leave - I wondered if it was predatory, if she could see that I was going away and was chasing.  She was Collie x Lab.  I also had a similar incident when I went to one of the local farms to tell them that some of their stock had got out onto the road.  As I went out through the gate, their Jack Russell did pretty much the same thing as Penny but I saw him coming and got the gate shut that time!  I don't know much about him though, so I couldn't tell you if he had any other problems - although their car had quite a few lumps out of the interior lining - I suspect it may have been him!

Many years ago we had a GSD that was everyones friend. He would wander in and out of the house and garden at will. He would visit all the neighbours on his own and play with all the children in the street. In those days there were many visitors to the house, the front door was always left open and all were welcomed by him. People would just walk up the hall and tap on the living room door.He was loved by all but he had just one fault once inside no one was allowed to leave unless shown to the door by us. He never attacked anyone though he would just give a warning growl and no one was about to challenge his authority. It was no problem to see people out to the door. Can't help as far as reason for this behaviour. We just took it as a guarding thing. He was not going to allow people to wander round his house unaccompanied. What a super dog and so missed by all when he died of old age. What happened to the beautiful temperament that we used to have in GSD's. My present one is a nightmare in comparison.

hi Gaby, just been reading your post, I have a male Gsd, who's 16 months old and is a great dog but we do have quite a few issues with him ie, unpredictability with other dogs esp. if it's another large male dog, d'you have any advice on this. I know this isn't what you were writing about but when I saw that you have a Gsd I thought it would be ok. to ask??

At a seminar by behaviourist John Rogerson, he explained that the reasoning behind this was that the dog viewed the acceptance of visitors to the house as the right of the owner(s) whereas when leaving they are entering "his domain", ie. the garden :)  Don't know if it is a "one statement suits all scenario" but it does make sense in many cases.  As does the "seeing off" of postmen, delivery men, etc

Regards Teri :)

I am in agreement for the most part - there will be other reasons behind some of them such as the herding bc x but if we were able to categorise every dogs behaving in a certain way for the same reason life would be so easy!!!!  If only.
I think that does offer a good explanation.  If you put it another way and touch on pack theory then the more senior group member (the owner) decides who joins the group, the lower member (the dog) accepts this and possibly interprets the visitor leaving and being shown out by a polite owner as the senior group member driving someone from their territory.  Many of the people who have replied and the couple of cases I have seen the dogs have no other problems, are well socialised and amiable.  The territory defence is down to the owner , as it should be, but the dogs perhaps sees that it is offering support in driving the intruder out.

There was an old saying I heard a long time ago, 'a dog may let a burglar in but he won't let him out'.  I suspect this may be related to guarding behavior, protection, territorial feelings, resentment, suspicion or even nervousness depending on the dog but doesn't necessarily mean a dog with behavioral problems but then again it doesn't mean they haven't either.  Some dogs with behavioral problems do, do this. 

Some dogs can feel threatened (fear) when a visitor stands up coupled with the idea that they are on their terrority (increased confidence) but they are not a dog to challenge or they are not aggressive as such so they will just have a little nip when the person turns away and heads towards the door, showing their disapproval in dog language with less chance of a repercussion. 

Some dogs may wait until the visitor is distracted to show their disproval, again less chance of a repercussion.   Some dogs will let you pet them and then bite you as you move your hand away.  A bit like lulling the victim into a false sense of security and then strike. 

Some dogs will let a visitor in but will not let them move about in the property at free will without showing disapproval, others will do the same if the owner is not there, in another room or otherwise distracted, going back to pack theory.  The garden theory sounds possible too.

Hi Deaks,

This one is beyond me, as a child we had a Jack Russell who had no problem with letting you in, BUT if you went to leave OH BOY!!!!!!

Consequently, we had few visitors!!!

We have no problems with people coming or going, but my dog does have a fetish with visitors shoes, i wonders if maybe it's because when we take our shoes off he knows we are staying in the house, he also had a thing a while ago where he would actually take shoes outside into the garden. That seems to have stopped. Sorry to vear off the subject just wondered if anyone had any views.