Have the help of a reputable expert behavourist with experience and the training to assist.

You wouldn't expect yourself to mend your dogs broken leg, would you? So why expect to be able to solve a biting guarding issue without an expert?

Hi thanks for that, but I have already sought advice from a dog trainer who said to surround the person coming in with treats, etc. Sounds easy enough but you need a certain amount of time to do this, and they would be bitten before I could get them in, never mind lay out the treats.

Had family to stay recently so we met them outside first, then he was fine with them coming in. Like you say its a guarding thing, which is not so bad if a burglar tries to get in. Will persevere for a while and see if he improves as he has had a lot to cope with, ie. learning to meet other dogs in a friendly way,etc.

A Dog Trainer is not necessarily a good behaviourist. I don't think anyone replying on a forum can responsibly advise you with aggression towards people. If you watch similar cases in the TV shows, you will sometimes see muzzles (and leads) being used to help control the dog, whilst it is being de-sensitised and Victoria Stillwell has had the "stranger" throw the reward to the dog, whilst a safe distance is maintained.

Dogs that are visitor friendly, still seem to be perfectly capable watchdogs and a show of guarding behaviour, if you have callers you are dubious about. There's no advantage to this aggression, and plenty of downside and worry, with it spoiling your social life, so I think you should reconsider. It's not just the dog, but the whole environment and your relationships with the dog that ought to be considered by the behavourist when deciding how to improve things.

Hi Foxy i've been doing this with my 1yr old Staff bitch who's started to growl/snap at dogs approaching her but sometimes its hard to get her to focus on me and the treat if she's too worked up about other dogs being near(even when off lead)sometimes i can get her to sit and lie down to relax and take the treat and other times shes just too jumpy or excited, what would be the best way to get her to calmly focus on me and the treat? thanks

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