Q: My Boston terrier goes wild when the door bell rings, or someone knocks or just comes into the house. He then jumps up and nips at the person(s) and when an attempt is made to restrain him, he will go "nuts," jumping and barking, and will try to bite me (OR the leash if I have put it on him)! It is quite obvious that he takes guarding the home very seriously; he will spend hours looking out waiting for some threat to his home, growling or barking at a passing truck, dog, etc. He does this at the homes of other family members as well, e.g., my daughter's house. Rocco was adopted when he was 3 from a shelter - he is 7, now - I know nothing about his previous home.

In every other respect, he is a perfect dog and friend! The family does not hesitate to allow him to be petted by babies! He is gentle and sweet...Any training he has, has been done by me: "Sit," "Come," "Down"...But Rocco does not hear anything I say when that doorbell rings! The only thing that gets him away from the doorway is throwing one of his toys or feeding me a treat,and that is temporary. I sometimes have to close him into an other area when someone visits. I do not know what to try or do about this most disturbing problem! Can you help me solve this, please?

A: The first thing to do here is start putting the dog in another room, with a closed door between the dog and the area where you are receiving your guest, before you open the door. The dog should not be in a location where he can watch them arrive and not get to them. A crate inside that room with the closed door is preferable if he is a dog who will scratch up a door or dig at the flooring under the door.

The reason this is the first thing to do, is that protecting people from potential injury is foremost. Another reason is that every time he repeats this behavior, it gets stronger and more potentially dangerous.

Okay, now having removed him from an immediate crisis, you need to plan a training program. The fact that the dog will nip at the person or at you in this excitement tells me that you need one-on-one help with this, rather than an obedience class to start.

I would strongly recommend an obedience class once you reach the point with a private trainer that you can confidently control the dog when he is excited. This is a skill, and you need someone in person to teach it to you. The most efficient way would be to have a behavior specialist come to the house, where he or she can observe the behavior first hand, and can show you in that exact setting how to handle it.

My favorite way to stop that obsession with guarding the house is to block the dog's view when you are not there to work with him. It might mean moving furniture, changing a window covering, or gating off that part of the house to keep him out of there when you're not supervising him.

When you are supervising the dog, watch him for the very first sign that he will run at the window, bark, etc. You can use a long line on him to make sure he will listen to you. All you're going to do is call him to you. When he gets to you, praise him, pet him, and sometimes either give him a treat or play ball with him for maybe a minute. Then release him. If he goes back to barking, call him again and repeat the reward sequence. You might have to call him several times in a row at first, but eventually it will only be once or twice.

This training is absolutely wonderful for the dog's temperament. That wild behavior gives him a big adrenaline rush that is addictive and makes the behavior worse and worse. By interrupting it in this pleasant way, you not only prevent the behavior from getting worse, but you create a vastly happier and more obedient dog.

You might be able to use a Gentle Leader head halter to better control the dog at the front door during training. However, this has to be fitted very carefully--especially on a brachycephic breed like the Boston Terrier--and you need the behavior specialist to show you how to safely use this device. It should not be used with a long line, only with a regular leash.

Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a behavior specialist in your area. If not, you might contact your nearest obedience training club (they are listed by state at www.akc.org). They do not generally do private lessons, but are in a good position to know the reputable dog professionals in your area.

I hope things go well. You are right to be concerned about this behavior, because it could spoil his behavior in other areas if not corrected--and with the right techniques.