Can anyone help with a really good method for training my
dog to stop barking so much every time someone comes to the front door? My
collie cross, Poppy, is seven years old and we’ve had her for four years. She’d
been a stray. When she first arrived she never barked at the door, until she boarded
with other dogs while we went on holiday and I assume she learnt this from the
other dogs. I didn’t mind then, as she only gave a short warning bark, which was
good as I often don’t hear the bell or knocking. But recently she has started
really barking when someone comes to the door and it’s reached the point where I
worry she’ll give herself a sore throat! As soon as the door is open she then
stops and licks whoever it is; she is really a very friendly girl. She doesn't do this when she hears a car she knows, for example my husband's or children's. The only
other time she barks is at squirrels who’ve dared to run up a tree, as opposed
to allowing her to chase them, when we’re on a walk.
I don’t mind her giving a warning bark, but I want to
control the level, and I want her to stop when I ask rather than when I open
the door, as obviously some delivery drivers and other people who don’t know the
dog beneath the bark are terrified by the noise she makes. She will do anything
for food, so any methods based around treats would probably work really well, but is noise phobic and wasn't impressed when we attempted clicker training!
Thanks in advance for your help.
June Walker, by email
Karen Wild, behaviourist (www.karenwild.co.uk), advises...
Hi June
A bark can herald all sorts of things and it sounds like
this is a habit that balances between the control you have and the self control
your dog has, too. If she is happy and friendly when people are visible it may
well be an alert/excited bark although dogs will bark for many reasons,
including fear or frustration so it’s worth monitoring her to make sure this is
the case.
My aim for dogs who bark for this reason is to give them a job to do
that not only interrupts the barking, it gives them something useful and fun to
do as well. This would be my choice rather than a ‘shh’. My preferred option
would be to teach Poppy a ‘Go to your bed’ signal first of all, before anyone
is at the door. This is a lot of fun! All you need is a favourite toy or a
treat that you toss onto her bed (or a mat nearby if you would like a new place
for her to go to). As she arrives, praise her and allow her the toy/treat
whilst on her bed. Next, begin to give a ‘Go to your Bed’ command as she
arrives, and gradually move away from the bed yourself, including a ‘point’
with your hand as you toss the treat or toy. This gradually builds up into a
gesture from a distance (and a well targeted throw) which should have her
happily racing to her new favourite place.
Teaching her a ‘stay’ whilst she is
there is your next step of course. Once this is established, begin to make
knocking or door bell noises very quietly and at the same time, give her the
‘Bed’ command. You can allow one or two barks, then the command. She has to run
there from the door area so build up to this.
Eventually Poppy should be
conditioned to hearing the doorbell or a knock, and diving on her bed in
anticipation of a reward. Finally (as you can see this must be done in stages!)
Poppy can wait there for a beloved visitor to come over and offer her treat,
toy, or a bit of fuss whilst she is still on her bed.
