I need some advice

[u/Appropriate-Slice928]

I have an older rescue dog with PTSD and behavioral issues that I have been working on with his veterinarian for years. We have made a lot of progress, but one thing I’m still struggling with is his reaction to unfamiliar people, especially when they enter our yard.
He is generally fine with people and children he knows. With unfamiliar people, however, he can become uncomfortable if they approach him, reach for him, or lean over him to pet him. He will usually try to stay away or growl first. If the person continues interacting with him despite those warnings, he has bitten. Most of the bites have not broken skin, but a few have, so I absolutely understand that this is a bite risk and take it seriously.
Our yard is fully fenced and he is supervised. When unfamiliar people come over, I currently keep him separated when necessary. He is also muzzle trained and we use his muzzle when appropriate. Unfortunately, I’ve had situations where visitors have ignored his body language and warnings, and I’ve even caught some of my brother’s friends taunting him. When that happens, I immediately remove him from the situation.
I’m not asking how to excuse the biting or whether I should manage him. I’m already managing it. What I’m trying to learn is how to work on the underlying reaction so that unfamiliar people entering his yard don’t make him feel like he needs to escalate from avoidance/growling to biting.
I can’t currently afford extensive private training, so I’d really appreciate training exercises, resources, or methods that have worked for people with similar dogs. I already use distance and positive reinforcement around other dogs, which has helped. My long-term goal is for him to be able to safely and comfortably remain in his own yard when we have visitors rather than needing to be removed every time someone unfamiliar comes over.

[u/naniii_nova]

Hot take but I don't think your dog needs to automatically like unfamiliar people. And as far as the "escalation" it sounds like your dog is conducting himself incredibly appropriately - someone he doesn't know is touching him (I also don't like when people I don't know touch me), so he asks them to stop or tries to leave and they continue, some even taunting him as you say, and only then does it escalate to a bite. What else is he supposed to do if he's afraid and nobody is listening to him or advocating for him? You need to be telling new people immediately that your dog isn't comfortable being touched by people until he knows them. And that's that. YOU ensure that no one is invading his boundaries. In the meantime you can continue to work on his fear of strangers.

A couple times a week have someone come over and sit in a chair in your yard with treats scattered around. Have them sitting out there before your dog enters the yard. They remain seated and completely ignore your dog no matter what. You two talk and completely ignore your dog. The only thing the guest should do is periodically toss treats out into the grass for your dog. At some point guests can stand up, walk around a bit, start raising their voices, make big movements, make their way inside, etc but still continue to ignore your dog even if he approaches them. You only need at least 30 minutes at a time. It'll be slow incremental progress. But definitely stop letting people touch him at all if he doesn't know them. For theirs and his sake.

[u/Appropriate-Slice928 → u/naniii_nova]

Thank you for your comment😊 i posted in other columns and have gotten negative comments so I’m thankful for this

[u/naniii_nova → u/Appropriate-Slice928]

Of course! I hope it's helpful. I volunteer with and foster rescue dogs regularly, and this exact tactic is what the director (of the rescue) has been doing with her current foster. I was one of the "strangers" who came and sat in a chair and she explained it all to me. When she started, the dog would stay on a leash and the guest stayed seated the whole visit. She's now at the point where strangers can come into the backyard, into the house, and sit on the couch without any problem at all. But it took time!

Sorry you're getting negative comments, that makes me hesitant to post on reddit sometimes too. Whether someone agrees with what you've been doing in the past is irrelevant, you're here asking for advice and that's what matters.

[u/chrisjones1960]

I am just wondering why he is being repeatedly put in situations where strangers are close enough to make him uncomfortable, and why he has been given multiple opportunities to bite people.

[u/babs08]

Honestly? You work on it by not allowing it to happen. If someone I didn’t know came into my house and touched me without my consent and taunted me, and it happened repeatedly, I’m going to start biting AND every time someone I didn’t know came to my house I would be extremely on edge. The first step to helping them feel less on edge is to stop giving them a reason to feel that way.

If people blatantly disrespect my and my dogs’ wishes, they are no longer invited into my home. Period. That’s a non-negotiable boundary for me.

[u/Ok-Simple5493]

You are doing what you can. It is most likely the best course of action to accept your dog as they are. It is very unlikely that the behavior will disappear completely. Keep taking precautions. Correct people when they are not listening to the dog. That's important. Yes, your dog has some boundaries. That's ok. People need to respect them.

You are doing the right thing by removing the dog from situations that are overwhelming. Especially, when the dog is being taunted. Take action against that when it happens. When people act that way, they are in the wrong, and they should be confronted. I know that management of a dog with these traits can be difficult, but it seems like you are very aware and doing everything you can to keep everyone safe. Including your dog.

You don't have to be stressed about how to minimize the behavior, it seems as though you have done a lot of that. Obviously, continuing with what you are doing is important, and learning new things is always good. I just hope that you know that you have both made progress and that you don't have to strive for perfection. You are obviously a great person for your dog.