Hi I knew a dog VERY well who was just the same with strangers one minute she was all over someone the next biting she was a fear biter the people had been wrongly advised to get other people to stoke it as much as poss, when really the poor dog needed removing from stressful situations until calmer then gradually introduced. so go at you dogs pace remove him if he get stressed but I'm not saying he shouldn't see people just take him away when stressed so he doesn't have to worry.

is he better with people in one area of the house? maybe the kitchen where the back door is open so he can get away if need be?

Our house is back to front open plan when you come out of the hall the back door is in front of you. The kitchen is off the living room so he goes in there if stressed with the stair gate across he can see and hear us and is always happy to be there. He would have to come by visitors to get to the back door.

Ollie doesn't bite he warns people. He either hates people or loves them we can tell straight away by his body language and his vocal input if he will get on with them or not. Sometimes in his own time he will make friends but we never push him past his comfort zone.

That was some bad advice given to your friends we never let Ollie become stressed out we remove him if he is getting stressed.

it may be worth trying to have visitors in the kitchen? anythings worth a go?
if it doesnt help then no loss eh

Ollie sounds like my friend's Briard. He was a stud dog in a kennel until she got him aged 5, and unsocialised with people and dogs. As you will know Briards are flock guardians and have a natural dislike of strangers. He has jumped up without warning twice, and bitten strangers faces who were stroking him, once requiring stitches. Now he has to be muzzled whenever he goes out or strangers visit the house.

His owner has created an interior kennel where he can go and watch what's going on but never feels compelled to join in. You're are lucky with Ollie because he seems slightly more relaxed and at least gives a warning first. Sometimes you have to accept you dog's limitations and take things at a frustratingly slow pace. It sounds as if that's what you are doing and Ollie is a lucky boy.

Tried that one Shona he gets more stressed because the kitchen is a smaller space.

Thank you Maxine yes we just have to be grateful that he gives warning thats probably because we have had him as a pup unlike your friends dog.

He is our special needs boy and will never change now, so we love him for what he is.

It has been interesting having these conversations though and to hear that he is not unique.

Sounds like your doing the right thing already
Hope he becomes totaly relaxed in the end, good luck.

And yes I think the dog I was talking about got pushed too much poor thing they got there advice from the breeder and aparently some of the litter mates were the same so don't no if they turned to biting as well .

Thank you. Its a shame about your friends dog.

I was also lucky in some good advice I got from a trainer.

Dogsey has also been a good place I have learnt a lot from this site.

Yes I think good advice is very important and when the breeder can't give the right advice something is def wrong, dogsey is def a good site for advice as there are so many people who all want the best for there dogs but taking your dog to a qualified trained when you have real problems is the best as they can properly asess the dog (if the breeder can't be relied on that is) thats what my friend did in the end and they've now fallen out with the breeder!! I didn't get the full story but I guess that it's over the probablems they've had with the dog.
But yes good luck keep at it even though it could take along time to completely get over.