Guests Arrive
Most people with a dog (unless she happens to be the shy type) have experienced excitement at the front door. As a dog trainer in Flagstaff, arguably the most dog friendly town in America, most clients who call me have a few front door guardians. Reactions I have seen range from an over excited dog barking, pacing jumping, giving no room to the guest; to nervous-aggressive, to straight aggressive. What ever your personal front door scene may be, if you desire to have more control over these situations, an understanding of jobs and pack roll should be cultivated. When your roll as leader is clearly defined, you will have the respect of the group as the one who sets the rules. The rules can be whatever you want them to be, if you know the correct way to communicate them.
Front Door Etiquette
Lets imagine the ideal scene. The door bell rings, perhaps your dog gives a signal bark, perhaps he does not. He most likely makes his way towards the door, but does not get too close, respecting the boundary that you have established. The closer you get to the door, the calmer the dog gets, and when you finally open the door you are able to great your guest and invite them in with there personal space intact. Your guest is not able to walk into your house as your dog sniffs them calmly. All of this begins with a dog's understanding that you own the space around the door when guests arrive. Someone has to do it. Your dog has most likely taken on this roll because he did not feel you had taken the initiative to do so.
Taking the Front Door Back
Dogs speak the language of body/energy. For instance, you could approach a dog a number of ways and for each get a different behavioral response. Moving in slow and anxious will give you something different then moving in slow and confident for example. In the case of claiming the front door, one loud noise should be made to signal that you are on the way. With an assertive body language (but not rushed or frantic or aggressive) approach the door confidently and get yourself in between the door and the dogs. Do not be hesitant about this process. Do not ask anyone to move; if a dog gets bumped into, its nothing more then getting bumped into because you, the Leader, was coming to the space YOU own and the dog wasn't paying attention. Handling your approach this way ensures that you will get different results as you approach in the future. Once you are in this space put your arms out to the side, making yourself larger, and take a step towards the most excited dog. Again, this move must be confident and matter of fact, but not frantic. The desired result is a dog that decides to give you more space. If the dog does not look up at you giving you a chance to share calm energy, continue to move forward, taking baby steps, being patient as you communicate that you require space. Follow through until you have achieved a calm mind in the dog. A dog that sits down and remains excited is not the desired result. A dog that has a calm mind and remains standing is much preferred. You patience will absolutely be tested, but being the most dominant 'dog' in the group requires a clear picture of what you want to achieve and the stubbornness to remain calm until you get it.
If done correctly, consistently, in the future the loud noise you make when you are on the way will be enough to calm the dogs and claim the space, and sometime in the future after that, no sound will be needed at all.
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