How to discourage territorial barking at home
I have a 4yo intact 55 pound male Labradoodle. He has a great disposition. However he goes nuts when someone walks on the sidewalk in front of our house. The double window in our main room is only ...
Forum Discussion
This is a site I like for information: Veterinary Partner
It is REALLY difficult to get a dog to stop doing a behavior that is instinctive, especially when it is taken to an extreme. The major take away in training is to SUBSTITUTE an acceptable behavior and use positive reinforcement to establish that behavior.
I had a similar issue (not a severe as yours) and I taught Ginger to go get her tennis ball (something she really enjoyed) whenever someone came to the door. It worked great for everyone except my brother-in-law, but that's another story.
Doug, DVM
From Barking Dogs wrote:
How do we stop barking? Start by identifying why your dog is barking. It is useful to journal times of day and what is in the environment during barking episodes. Teaching alternative behaviors incompatible with barking like checking in with their person or relaxing on a mat can be helpful to change this behavior. It is important to use positive reinforcement when teaching these behaviors, meaning a reward is given for each desired behavior. A reward does not have to be a treat. Learn what your dog likes. Some rewards include a favorite toy, attention, or verbal praise. Force or pain including yelling, painful collars, and physical punishment are often not helpful. These techniques and devices can increase anxiety, causing the barking to get worse rather than better.
It is REALLY difficult to get a dog to stop doing a behavior that is instinctive, especially when it is taken to an extreme. The major take away in training is to SUBSTITUTE an acceptable behavior and use positive reinforcement to establish that behavior.
I had a similar issue (not a severe as yours) and I taught Ginger to go get her tennis ball (something she really enjoyed) whenever someone came to the door. It worked great for everyone except my brother-in-law, but that's another story.
Doug, DVM
