Pup barks and growls when people visit

[Minniemoo6]

My pup is 9 months now and we socialised from the minute we had her. She did get alot of attention on walks but came across a dog who growled at her and was quite rough with her. The owner moved his dog and stroked mine but she became a little skittish so I took her out if the situation. We then enrolled her in training at 16 weeks and she was very shy around people and the dogs and would hide behind me but in the third session she became the opposite and would bark and lunge at every session. With no help from the trainer, she basically saw her as a nuisance. I pulled her out and continued training at home. We are now with a behaviourist for the reactivity and have been doing this for a few months and very slowly she's getting a bit better but hates being touched by anyone. She's very independent. We don't get many visitors at home really and the ones we do have she's become used to but today my relative came and she barked when he came in which is normal for her, then she growled and backed away. I asked my relative not to touch her unless she goes to him. We went outside and she was fine and went for fuss but then barked indoors again. Everytime he stood up, moved quick she's bark and run. She then started to take a ball to him to play but didn't seem overly comfortable still. Has anyone had this with a pup? Did they grow out of it or if not what did you do? I put some liver paste in a Kong, scattered treats which kept her busy inbetween barking. In the end she came to lie with me but then they had to leave. So does this mean she was getting comfortable? It scares me that if ever I need a workman here or ambulance...as my dd has problems, she would do this and they'd see her as aggressive. She didn't bare teeth or snarl aggressively it was a low rumble growl along with bark. I don't really want to put her another room because Ideally I want her to get used to people being around and her being comfortable with that. Ontop of that she'd bark the house down if i left her in another room. Obviously any sign of aggression and I certainly would put her away but I'd really like her to be comfortable. I do leave the kitchen door open so she can come and go. I'm just confused as to why she's allow them to stroke her in the garden and bring her ball indoors but run away any other time. Any advice please I'd be so grateful. Thankyou

I would get back onto your behaviourist and let them set up a plan in rl

You are already working on her fear and this is the same. So your behaviourist should be able to help you with this issue.

It is worth making sure that the behaviourist is qualified not just a trainer calling themselves a behaviourist.

Best not to take specific advice from randoms on forums who will come up with loads of often incorrect advice.

Mine is the same. Regular visitors know they just need to ignore him and he stays quiet, but even eye contact can set him off barking. Quite funny sometimes when people test this out!

If someone goes to stroke him without being invited he doesn't move but gives a very low growl as if saying "back the fuck off" which they always do!

When workmen come to the house I always put him in the utility room with a treat, then ask if they're OK with dogs (they usually are) and I explain to just ignore him.

He's happy to watch what the workmen are doing, keeps a very careful eye on them though with the occasional bark if they're making too much noise.

What breed is your dog? Mine's a rescue mongrel but looks like he's got a lot of German shepherd in him.

What I would do in this situation is hand the visitor a handful of high value treats and ask them to gently throw them away from themselves. Enough so that the dog has to turn to find them.
The visitor doesn't say anything, give eye contact or hand feed.
Sniffing releases stress and gives them something to focus on.

I'm not qualified in any way but this is what I've done with my dogs from puppyhood for the last 25 years.
I do it as part of their training in the same way I'd ask them to sit

Ahh funny you say that mine is german shepherd. Once she warms to them she'll run excited to greet them bit this is only regular visitors so they know she's no harm. She stopped the growling once they sat down and turned to low barks if nay sudden movements.

Great advice thankyou. She took her time sniffing out her Kong which kept her busy enough to hear visitors talking etc. I think she really wanted to go to them as I also have another dog who is very friendly and loves everyone and she was having a fuss but she was too nervous. She knew they were no harm as once in the garden she was fine for a fuss but back indoors it was like 'should I shouldn't i'.

Yes he is a behaviourist and there is someone else there who is the trainer also. They're very well recommended and I was sure to look them up before hand rather than diving in like we did the first time. The trainer we had before was better with little dogs and as mine was lunging and barking rather than guiding my pup or me she would just stare at her and said unfortunately she'll always be that way and nothing will change so with that I left. She kind of blamed socialising but I socialised her alot when she was little because I know these breeds can be unpredictable so made sure we did all we can but I feel so let down that after all that work it didn't seem to work for her.

What breed is she?

Ooh see she is a German Shepherd.

Very very common behaviour and even more reason to get in qualified help.

Most shepherds do not need meet and greet seasons as just one negative experience will cause issues for a long time. More focus on the owner when new things happen.

Absolutely DO NOT Give the visitors treats to give to the dog or throw the treats.

Your dog is already conflicted eg wants to meet the person but is frightened to do so adding in treats at this stage just ups the confliction.

A very nervous dog will even find the movement of the visitors arm throwing the treat difficult and may lunge at the arm.

If you do want to use treats you use them and drop them on the floor behind you away from the visitor. It gives the dog a choice to move away from the visitor and relax if the dog returns to the visitor it will be their choice and not forced by the treats.

My only thought is the experinec3 of the dog growling and owner trying to touch her ehislt she was already worried has kind stayed with her because befire this she was fine and people used to comment how friendly she was for the breed but then all that changed and I'm really upset by it because I've tried so hard to not have the dog everyone assumed she'd be just because of her breed. As she grew people actually walked away from her so i suppose this didnt help. When she was at the worse stage she'd bark and lunge and now its down to the odd bark when out walking so we are slowly getting there. I don't expect her to be like my other dog and want to be fussed by everyone. I get some dogs are not as socialble and would rather stay away so I can deal with that but I don't want her intimidating people. She did lie by me before my relatives left and seemed really calm just looking on until they got up to leave and then the bark came. It's like she doesn't want them in but doesn't want them leave.

I would ignore all the advice on this thread with the exception of consulting a qualified behaviourist (and I see you are already working with one).

Do NOT get visitors to chuck food at your dog - this if such dangerous advice when you have a dog who is already incredibly nervous and wary of people.

You need to see an APBC accredited behaviourist - please don't take anyone else's well-meaning advice. They don't know you or your dog and could inadvertently put you both in an incredibly volatile situation.

Good luck!