1) General
These dogs need not be handled with the extreme gentleness described under timid dogs but the same program should be followed to make them more relaxed, more obedient to your commands and dependant on you for direction and their safety, and more relaxed in the presence of strangers.
2) Encounters with people outdoors
When you stop to talk to a friend make the dog lie down beside you and stay. Step on the leash so the dog cannot get up. At the end ask your friend to leave first and keep the dog lying down until some distance separates you, then praise the dog, make a big fuss of it and reward with treats or a toy. The lying down is a submissive posture from which it is difficult for the dog to behave or feel aggressive.
At first the dog may make a dive for your friend's ankles as soon as they turn away. You are braced for this and have your foot on the leash so close to the collar that the dog's nose hits the ground. You keep pressure on your foot and the leash while you scold the dog in a low growling voice using many words. Walk around for a moment then ask your friend to approach while you put the dog in a down/stay and step on the leash. Repeat over and over and on successive days until the dog loses all signs of aggression on your friend's leaving. Repeat then using other people.
3) Encounters in the house---visitors
With the set-ups have the dog lying down and told to stay with someone sitting on the leash before the visitor comes in the room. On future occasions decrease the distance between the dog and visitor but always have the dog lying down. If the dog is relaxed and happy, put a 10 foot nylon line to its collar and allow it to approach the visitor but keep the line tight so it does not attack. Get the dog to lie down and stay closer to the visitor but keep one hand on the line in case of trouble.
4) Encounters in the house---residents
Use set-ups with the dog on a line held by someone strong who the dog obeys. Have people walk and later run through one end of the room. If the dog lunges forward for a bite, jerk hard on the line, shout "No", grab by the throat and shake severely while scolding in long, low sentences sounding like a growl.
see also
Attacking out of fear
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