Analyse the types of people and situations which trigger aggression. It may be people of a certain sex, age or wearing certain clothes, such as a uniform or a ball cap.
1) People in an age or sex category.
As an example, if aggression is directed towards men but not boys, ask teenage boys to visit using the 'jolly routine' to keep the dog relaxed. If at any time the dog is too aggressive to respond to this routine put it into a down/stay on the lead beside your chair and keep the dog in this submissive position even when the visitor gets up to leave. The dog should not think that his aggression drove the visitor away so wait until the dog is quiet before leaving.
When the boy is accepted ask him to stand at a distance in front of you and the dog. The dog is on a lead and as the boy gives the command "sit" and then "down" the owner, without saying a word, pushes the dog into position if it does not obey. The boy gives praise and perhaps tosses the dog a treat immediately it is in position. Then the boy gives the command "stay" and walks in a large circle around dog and owner. The owner pushes the dog down again if it attempts to rise and the boy gives the release word and praise when he returns to his original position. Repeat until the dog is promptly obeying the commands. At this point , which may take several visits with a very aggressive dog, the boy comes to stand beside the owner but with the owner between him and the dog, and repeats the commands. From here the boy could stand so the dog is between them and if all goes well, finally take the owner's place.
Follow this routine with successively older males, so that in accepting and obeying orders the dog comes to accept an increasingly large age group of males in a leadership role.
2) People wearing uniform, caps or carrying certain objects.
Acquire the articles which trigger aggression and leave them in full view round the house, constantly switching their positions. Then start to wear or carry the objects before a pleasurable activity such as meals and walks. When the dog completely ignores the objects then have someone hold the dog on a lead outdoors. Go to a distance, put on or carry the object while out of sight and then walk slowly toward the dog without speaking. From a distance the dog may see the object but not recognise you and bark. The person holding the dog should not react. At some point the dog will recognise the owner and feel very foolish that it barked. When this is repeated many times from different directions and in different places, the dog will learn not to bark or show aggression towards the object. If aggression towards others wearing the object persists in close encounters handle as described under 1).
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