[LMH]

My numbnut dog gets very guardful in the house. So bad that we have a guy staying with us right now and like I said in another thread he can't go in the kitchen cuz my dog is in there and when he sees him he jumps and barks. Being a big Cane Corso,this is very frightening to the guy. But i can't believe the difference in my dog from when he's outside to inside. On the streets anyone could approach him and he loves it and rolls over for them. But in the house it's like he has to challenge everyone. My sister came over and he was acting up so i put him outside.then I let him back in and my sister just ignored him for a while then he was fine and she was able to sit with him and pet him. But for some reason he will not give this guy a chance. He just doesn't like him. Any suggestions on what to do the moment he starts growling at the guy and barking?As of now I just make him sit or lie down but he snaps at me too so i end up putting him outside. And yes he gets exercise.

[Curbside Prophet]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1l4Jd1bu3pY

This video shows an example of desensitization and counter conditioning. The key to D/CC is knowing when your dog is sub threshold (alert, but attentive to you), and over threshold (non respondent to you). I suggest getting a certified professional to help you point out when your dog is sub/over threshold.

When they're in the house, the dog looks as though she's over threshold, but Sophia was doing some simple classical conditioning (dropping treats when the dog stopped lunging and growling). When they went outside, they added enough distance so that the owner could work with the dog on simple behaviors. Over time, perhaps weeks, that distance is narrowed as the dog becomes less reactive to the person.

What helps this process along is abusing NILIF, working on attention cues, and working on your dog's impulse control.

Otherwise, you should manage the dog...keep him in a crate (I know you'd have to move a box car in the house), but that really is the better option over others IMO.

[TooneyDogs]

Guardful in the house...would you say that is something you kind of encouraged...maybe just a little....to protect you and your place? And, taking it one step further...you never encouraged him to protect the outdoors?

[LMH]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do need someone to practice on since the guy staying here has no interest in dogs and I don't think he cares to really alleviate the problem he just wants to move about the house with out a big dog barking at him. So I know my dog also picks up that energy. I do have a crate that I can bring out and see if he still fits in it. It is pretty big. That might be the best for now cuz it's cold outside and i hate leaving him out there. Also the guy is leaving in a few weeks and I just don't have the money to get a trainer right now.
About the encouraging part- It's funny cuz my dog is like backwards. He barks when a stranger is in the house but I am perfectly at ease with it but when the doorbell rings late at night or I hear a noise late at night and get scared- he doesn't do anything. And I say Kameha-what was that ,get them. But he just looks at me with a blank stare.