My 2 1/2 year old lab has always been very anxious and has recently (last week or so) been really bad when people come to the front door. I’ve been training him with “shhhh! Quiet” said in a calm voice with a treat and it seems to work, but with people trying to touch him, he gets really growly and sounds awful. My friend came to the door today (first time he has met my dog) and my dog was just growling and growling at him (my friend didn’t come into the house, just stayed outside). He did try and give my dog a treat, which my dog accepted, but then went back to growling and just sounding horrible.
My dog isn’t one for being touched by other people (he’s fine with people he really knows) but people touching him when we are out and about just seems to make him feel really uncomfortable. I do tell people not to touch him as he doesn’t like it and I keep him under control. I carry treats with me and he wears a nose lead (can’t remember the proper name for it!) and he has excellent recall. It just seems that when he’s at home, he feels like he has to defend it.
My question really is how can I help him overcome this? He’s a good boy but he just sounds scary, when he isn’t.
I do have a behavioural therapist we have seen before for another issue, but she’s away at the minute.