What should I do before a visitor arrives?

Use a secure room, gate, crate or other familiar separation before opening the door. Tell the visitor not to approach, stare at or reach for the dog. Management comes before training when there is a bite risk.

Should a visitor give my dog treats?

Not automatically. Food does not make every setup safe and can bring a worried dog closer than it can comfortably cope with. The right approach depends on the dog's behaviour and bite history.

Barking, lunging, growling or snapping

Is your dog aggressive when visitors come into the house?

Start by preventing another bad encounter. Then explain the exact trigger, distance, body language and bite history so the next step fits the dog in front of you.

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Before the door opens

Management is the first useful action.

Put the dog behind a secure barrier before the visitor enters. Use a setup the dog already knows, and make sure nobody opens the barrier casually. Ask visitors to ignore the dog rather than reaching, staring or trying to prove they are friendly.

Do not punish growling. A growl gives information that the dog is struggling. Punishment may suppress the warning without resolving the reason for it.

The details that change the plan

Include whether the behaviour starts at the knock, the doorway, movement inside the home or direct interaction; whether the dog can disengage; how close the visitor is; and any previous contact or bite. Sudden behaviour change, pain or illness needs veterinary assessment.

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Is your dog aggressive when visitors come into the house?

Management is the first useful action.

The details that change the plan

Tell Pack Life F what happens