[PitBullLvr]

My one female, Denali, is kind of over-protective of her territory. She's great with me & my husband & the other dogs. It's just when strangers come to the house, she barks & growls at them. She's never bitten anyone, but she does make some people scared because she is a Pit Bull. She's fine when we take her to PetSmart or to the park. She play with people & other dogs there. She just does it when we're at home. I don't mind her being protective. I like a protective dog. I just don't want her scaring the family & our friends when they come to visit. I've resorted to crating her when someone comes. But I'd like to be able to let her out with the other dogs. She was with my brother for a couple weeks while she was a puppy & I'm not sure how he treated her. I don't know if this has anything to do with it or not. Any suggestions on how to change this? Thanks.

[Dollydog]

To be honest I would have a chat with a behaviour specialist on this one.

She needs to learn appropriate guarding behaviour.

Not least, she is a pit bull, and you know how people love to exaggerate their behaviour. Don't give them the chance.

Having a dog that is protective may make you feel good about yourself, but for her sake, you have to get her to tone down her behaviour.

I once had a woman who went around telling people that my staffies had gone for her when we were out walking. I'd never even met the woman!

Don't give the gossip mongers any excuse.

[PitBullLvr]

Where would I find a behaviour specialist? Is it the same as a trainer? I would LOVE to talk to one. She's fine in public though, so I don't really have to worry about that. I just don't want her to be quite so protective of the home. Mainly because, like you said, she is a Pit Bull & people would look very badly on her just because of that.

[Dopeydawg]

Try doing a google search for Animal Behaviour Modification, that should throw something up.

The reason you are looking for a behaviour specialist, as opposed to a trainer, is to try and establish the reason the dog is behaving the way she is. Once you've got that, then you look for ways to modify it.

[PitBullLvr]

OK. I'll try that. Thank you very much.

[spike]

I have a similar situation with my dog Spike. But maybe it's the opposite problem? I mean, he is way protective as well. He barks and growls until he sees who's at the door. Then he is happy and wants to attack them with kisses.
I figured this was a breed norm though. If someone wanted to break in, they would change their mind quickly when they heard the big dog on the other side of the door going insane. Is this something that one would want to have looked at by a dog trainer or behaviorist? I do not believe he would hurt anyone, but you never know, if they were not invited in...

Know how people have been sued in the past because someone broke in and got attacked by the home-owner's dog? That seems extremely unfair.. Scary thought.

[Dopeydawg]

Barking and growling are a good deterrent to intruders and as long as the dog is not aggressive towards visitors then I can't see a problem.

My staffies never used to bark if somebody came to the door. I wouldn't have given much for their chances if they had tried to enter uninvited though.

As long as the dog is following your lead, by allowing people in that you want in, then you should be OK.

[Staffi Lover!]

Is my dog the only one who doesnt bark? My dog cries & winges when someone is at the door as she wants to see who it is lol!

Sounds rather cute though, she looks at me all cute!

[bandit_starr06]

Our boxer puppy doesn't bark. At all. I mean it's like he doesn't know how. He'll whine and cry and growl, but no barking. Maybe he's just not old enough yet to do the whole barking thing. Our husky barks at everyone he sees; he's an outside dog, at least until we can get the shedding problem under control and we find out if the baby is allergic to both dogs and cats or just cats.

[Dopeydawg]

Barking is a dogs way of shouting for the rest of his pack.
Staffies have been bred to fight on their own, so usually, but not always, are not big barkers.

Huskies are pack dogs, big time! So tend to bark quite a bit. They are noted for being vocal.