If the dog is extremely aggressive when people come to the door but relaxes once they are in the house, follow the territorial aggression notes but omit the "jolly routine". Instead teach the dog to go to its mat, lie down and stay on command. Begin by giving the command, leading the dog to the mat and making it lie down. When down, praise and drop a treat between the dog's front feet. Give the command "stay" and walk a few paces away. When the dog has learnt to go to its mat and stay, put a leash on the dog and have a helper ring the doorbell once. When the bell rings you immediately tell the dog to go to the mat. You may have to drag it there and make it lie down but give the dog a treat it really enjoys when it obeys you. When the dog is down, call to your helper, who will be a member of the family at first, to come into the room and sit down and ignore the dog. Repeat this over and over, until the dog comes to expect the command when the bell rings.
At this point ask a friend to ring the bell and have the door unlocked or another person to let them in. All this has been done with the dog on a leash so you have control. When friends can come in and the dog stays on the mat with you close by, tie a 15 foot nylon cord to the collar and start to move further from the mat after the dog is down and told to stay. The dog may make a dash for the door but brace yourself for this so the dog is stopped sharply. Scold the dog using a low growling voice as you drag him back to the mat and have him lying down again. Only then call to your helper to come in and, as before, ignore the dog as they sit down.
Dogs taught this way usually learn to go to their mat just on hearing the bell. When visitors are seated, if the dog gets up and approaches them in a friendly way, this is allowed. If the dog gets up and rushes towards them, he is immediately taken back to his mat.
see also
Aggression toward people
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