Hi, My name is Wendy and I have a 5 year old Old English Sheepdog.
He is generally well behaved, although we have a problem with him in that he
barks and cries whenever visitors go to leave the house. We did have a behaviour therapist come to him, but she said he was the most stubborn dog she had ever seen. We tried the bottle with pebbles, the water spray but nothing seems to work. I am running out of ideas and patience now. It is only
visitors that he will not allow out of the house. He accepts me going to work and is no problem. Any ideas greatly appreciated.

thats quite unusual, you could try getter some visitors to go in and out of your house over and over again through out the day and then everytime he barks and whines spray him with a lemon spray (not too much lemon mind you because it's an acid). or you could try getting his attention away from the visitors while they leave by putting him in another room or in the garden, or possibly even throwing a ball for him to chase while you say farewell to them?

Thank you for that, no one has mentioned lemon spray before.
The trouble with Alfie is he seems to sense when people are about to leave and starts to get anxious. I have tried to put him outside or in another room, but either he wont go out, or if he goes in another room he still makes a lot of noise.
Could try the lemon spray, do you just add lemon to water?

Thank you for that, no one has mentioned lemon spray before.
The trouble with Alfie is he seems to sense when people are about to leave and starts to get anxious. I have tried to put him outside or in another room, but either he wont go out, or if he goes in another room he still makes a lot of noise.
Could try the lemon spray, do you just add lemon to water?

Yeah just a little bit of lemon like 2:10 ratio or something.
You could try distracting him with food, maybe give him a little bit of food in his bowl just before they leave that might keep him busy so they can leave un-noticed

Thank you for that, tried the food bit that didnt work. will let you know how I get on with the lemon spray. Many thanks for your help.

The other thing that Alfie does when people visit is if they try to go to the toilet or walk out to the kitchen he barks at them then as well, it is driving me up the wall. I guess the lemon spray would be effective again, so I will keep trying.

It kind of sounds like he's being protective of his environment, do you let him go where ever he wants in the house or does he have an area of his own, a kennel etc?

He pretty much has the run of the house, but what i don't understand is why he accepts me and my husband going to work but not anyone else leaving! This is the only thing that
is stopping him being the perfect dog.