In dog training terms I really like to call this “Stranger Aggression”. If your dog gets scared by strangers; jumpy and always on alert, pacing and frightened by the smallest movements or if he is extraordinarily still with laser like concentrate on his target (the mailman, a visitor approaching). Then your dog is showing warning signs that he could get assertive toward strangers.
Reasons why
The one reason dogs show “stranger aggression” is that they haven’t been properly socialized around strangers. They have not spent sufficient time around strangers to get used to them. Your dog looks to you for all his worldly experiences. It is up to you to expose him to new people, places and things in a positive demeanor with positive experiences so that he will realize for himself that not all new places and faces are something that should be scared of.
What do you do now?
Socialization: A technique of getting your dog accustom to the world around him and all the strange folk, animals and things in it. I won’t stress enough the seriousness of socialization is to your dogs upbringing. Socialization should start as quickly as your baby dog has his shots and continue throw away his life.
What about an older dog.
It is never really too late to socialize your dog. Although it could take a bit longer and you need to take certain precautions so that you, your dog or the stranger can avoid a bad experience or worse an injury.
Take it gently and never force a very concerned dog into an unusual situation. Try to keep any training in short lessons or exposures of not more than 15 mins. Reveal your dog to new folks and places frequently. You may expect your dog to get over his fears if you only work on his socialization once per week. Try 2 – 3 times per week and go from there with longer sessions.
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