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Barking at the door
- Have one person go outside and knock on the door/ring the doorbell. Completely ignore the knock. When your pup has stopped barking and comes to check in with you, say “Good” and give them a treat. When they have completely calmed, have the person knock on the door again. Repeat. We are teaching them that a knock does not always mean someone is about to arrive. When the person finally does come back in, wait until your pup is calm and DON’T knock before entering.
- When someone does arrive and knock on the door, ignore it until your pup has stopped barking. A sign on the door explaining that your dog is in training and any parcels can be left outside will help with this process.
- Knock/doorbell as a cue to go to bed: Have someone knock on the door, then tell your pup to “Go to your mat”, then reward them for being on their mat (in that order). Repeat a lot! They will eventually start to go to bed themselves when they hear the knock and you can reward them when they are in their bed.
