I want to raise suspicion levels - Page 5

If this dog is 2 years old and new to the family wouldn't he have to want to protect them. He may just need time to bond with his new family and his instinct to protect will come out.

I have had Ruger since he was 12 weeks old, I am getting an adult female in a couple of weeks. I will probably have her inside as soon as I know her personality.... She will most definately be part of the family, but first and foremost she will be a sport dog...... You guys taking bets??? LMAO! 3 days?

Rugers
     I have a suggestion for you that I'm sure some will rule out. This is what I do with my dogs, and no one is in jeopardy and you are NOT encouraging bad biting.
     I go outside while my dog(s) are in the house. Put on a hat and cover your face and neck. Peek through the windows and sneak around and knock on doors or windows. go to front door, back door and knock. Poke your head just enough for the dog to see. When he barks or makes any effort to demonstrate suspicion, take your "disguise" off and go tell him good boy. Let your daughter help, she stays in with dog, you go out, sneak around, let her encourage the barking behavior, high praise at the smallest amout of defense.
     Outside, do the same thing, hide around the corners,covered with a sheet,as soon as suspicion comes out, praise him.Don't let him know it's you under there. All you want to pull out is the bark right? I'm SURE if a real threat was there, your dog would know exactly what to do, and for that he need not bark and give warning.
    I have a great deal of fun with my dogs hiding around on them, and when my kids were little,it was fun,fun,fun playing hide and seek basicly with the dogs while getting the reaction I wanted from them.
    Nothing professional on this method, but IT WORKS!!!!

Ruger, Each to his own, but I wouldn't flank the dog.If I'm understanding your post you want to raise the suspicion level, not put the dog in defense. Enlist the help of someone else and do some run-a-ways, when the dog alerts on the stranger praise the dog and build on the suspicious behaviour. This can be done inside the house as well as outside as long as the dog can see or hear the intruder. Kitkat has the right idea, but I wouldn't use myself or anyone dressed in a big coat or hat,just a normally dressed person will work. However I agree with Hodie, you're walking a fine line that very well could result in a  disaster.

Michael,
I agree. 

Kitkat,
As far as the hat and disguise thing goes, don't you think the dog knows it's you?  Can your dog be fooled that easily? I would personally avoid putting my own dog into defense and having someone praise my dog for barking at me.  Your idea, when done by someone else, in normal clothing will work, as Michael suggested.  But, I think it may be a little confusing to most dogs with a strong temperament.  I prefer to spend my time developing  a strong relationship based on trust.  I find it counterproductive to make my dog "suspicious" of me while a family member praises it.  Then to pull off my "costume" and say "good boy, you are right for thinking  I'm a weirdo banging on the windows and doors."  There are better ways to do this, IMO.    

Jim

I have to admit the Halloween thing gave me a laugh.

Ruger,
I thought you were talking about a puppy, good to know.
Much different deal now.

Flanking with a stranger does involve the run-away.    And it's only done once, it must be done by means of a setup.
It is very effective all on it's own and would not turn a dog into a man eater or biter, only suspicious of a particular type of stranger.  How the person plays the role is critical.   Agitation and run-aways are a means to increase confidence.
The courage must be there to start with or you create a fear biter.   Test for courage. 

There is beauty in it's simplicity.

I might add Ruger,
I think your worried over nothing.  Home invaders target specific people, familiar people, and they don't just strike at random, they plan and research their victims.

An exterior video camera in view, even a placebo does wonders.

Michael49, you are exactly right.
I know his thresh hold with his defense, and it is pretty high, if he did not have the issues he has, we were going to put him on a table ( I know allot of you do not agree with that method) to bring his thresh hold down a bit. He has courage, and is confident. I was also thinking I knew how to do this, I was going to have someone he has never met come to the house and bang on the door, try to come in.
I realize NOW that when he is "staring" at these people, he is "sizing them up" waiting to see if their intentions are good or bad.
I also know that the few times my step father came over drunk, I had to put Ruger up, He stared thru the secuity door and would not let him in, I think it was the "rancid alcohol smell"

Also if you look into it, here in Sacramento there has been a rash of home invasions targeting the "child home alone" It scares the CRAP out of me. My daughter watches the news with me, and she sees it too. I don't want her to feel insecure EVER when she is at home.

It's not the smell of alcohol, it's the effect it has on the user, and the users themselves.
You want your daughter to be aware, and to have a plan.
I thought you didn't know any bad people.

Trust Rugers instinctive behavior and build on it when its justified.Even a fully trained ppd is a gamble as for as true protection is concerned in a real life scenario. I don't know your daughters age , but if it's appropriate I would opt for some firearm training if I thought it was warranted.