Dog and doorbell is a combination of elements that is not usually a source of joy for furry owners. Nor for its neighbors, everything must be said. And it is that barking when there is a knock at the door is a fairly common canine discipline problem, since it is a natural behavior protection on command (or family, in this case). It doesn’t matter if it’s a Doberman or a Pekingese. However, it is possible to get them to stop doing it if you know how.
Types of barking when the doorbell rings
As always, part of the solution to a problem happens and begins with understanding the causes for which it occurs. So, as a “dog mom” in the process of trying to stop being afraid of the postman ringing the bell, I’ve learned, after much research, that dogs can bark at this stimulus for two different and even combined reasons:
First of all we have the territorial instinct, a behavior that can be reassuring to humans because the dog defends the house and deters intruders. however, this type of barking is usually compulsive and insistent. Very annoying in the long run.
On the other hand, a bark can also warn us of an arrival that pleases them. Both because they know that the sound of the bell anticipates receiving a visit or because it means that someone from the family is coming, to which they are excited. It is recognizable because the barking is less than in the previous case and, in addition, they wag their tails, make eye contact with you and wait for you to open the door.
Teach your dog to stop barking when the doorbell rings
In my own experience, a very simple thing that makes a big difference is maintaining a calm and relaxed attitude. It’s not always easy with the racket of noise and the fact that there’s someone on the other end waiting to be served, but it’s the only way to start. Nagging and yelling will only make the problem bigger and bigger as we feed off their nervousness..
Thus, when someone knocks on the door and my dog barks instinctively, I go to him without being overwhelmed or rushed to answer the door quickly and I calmly direct him to his bed (but you can do it with any place where your pet lies down to chill out) while I repeat to “your bed” (although you can use any command you want). Of course, it is important that we do it without forcing him, it is about obeying us and accompanying him to his place.
Once I have listened to you, reward him. I’m not going to lie to you, it will take a lot of repetitions and perseverance to get him to stop barking like crazy. But, although the total solution can take weeks and months to arrive, I promise you that the improvement is immediate as soon as you start putting this technique into practice.
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