Barking & Retreating; Pouncing & Biting Coat.

Any ideas on getting a recently rescued, long-time crated, Giant Schnauzer (1) Not to bark at, retreat, and cower in the corner from visitors entering the house/office and (2) Not to chase behind those visitors when they're leaving, pouncing and biting (playfully, I think) at their pants and coat?

And any ideas on getting same dog not to be scared of men, especially the one resident male (my husband)? (Note: When he speaks in a soprano, falsetto voice and acts feminine, she's not afraid). She gets especially spooked once it turns evening.

Otherwise, she's great. For example, she's totally dependable out-of-doors to follow voice commands at all times, under all situations. Almost never needs to be on a leash.

Time will help with your husband, more than anything. She sounds like she needs some basic training and socialization around people. Try keeping her on a leash when you have visitors over, so you can be aware where she is, and give a quick tug on the leash to correct her/redirect her if she starts being naughty.

Certainly positive reinforcement - visitors can offer her a treat for behaving, for example if she'll do "sit" for them, and just repeat this with anyone who comes to visit for a long time.

How much interaction does your husband have with the new baby? I bet she is gorgeous, by the way, and congratulations on going the rescue route!

:) Wish I could Help.. I am not a Dog Whisper.. However Welcome to Pet Talk & enjoy all the talks & pics..

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Originally Posted by slevtov

(1) Not to bark at, retreat, and cower in the corner from visitors entering the house/office

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How is she with strangers outside of the house? She seems very uncomfortable with them in the house so your goal would be to let her know that people coming in are okay. I'd leash her and go a distance away from the door. Practice simple commands (like sit or down) and keep her busy and occupied on you. Have someone enter the house while you keep her attention on you. She's allowed to look but she's not allowed to react to the people coming in. If she does react, go further away from the door (or do a circle to get her attention back on you) and praise her when she's doing well. When she's doing well at a certain distance, move a little closer. But AS SOON as she feels uncomfortable, move further away again. It will take some time and patience.

If she's okay meeting people outside you could also take the dog outside on a leash and walk in the house with the stranger. Inside the house I'd have the stranger offer her a treat.

You really just want her to pair strange people with good experiences.

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(2) Not to chase behind those visitors when they're leaving, pouncing and biting (playfully, I think) at their pants and coat?

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The visitor's should respond with an "Acck!" or an "Ouch!" while they stop moving, turn their back and cross their arms ignoring her completely. When she stops (which she will, only moving people are fun to bite!) they should praise her.

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And any ideas on getting same dog not to be scared of men, especially the one resident male (my husband)?

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I would encourage your husband to just interact with her a lot. Have him do the feeding and the walking. In time she should become more comfortable around him.

Out of doors, Diana the Giant Schnauzer rescue is reasonably good with people. First of all, if I don't want her to go near some one, I tell her to heel or stay, and she absolutely heeds. But if I okay her rushing over to a person walking by, she approaches them in a reasonable way, kind of happy, especially if it's a female. If the walker bends over to pet her, at first she jumps away, but quickly returns and accepts being petted.

She's truly wonderful with other dogs, even if they try to attack her. She's a total lady, refusing to fight, yet not afraid of another dog. And she loves playing with any other dog.

Her "hang-ups" seem related to being indoors. Another indoor hang-up occurs if she is taken to an indoor shopping mall. She shakes like a leaf with fear and darts her head fearfully in all directions, never settling down, even if I sit on a bench and settle down myself. Maybe more exposure will break this fear?