Advice please to stop our dogs barking at people at our front door?

Question

They're fine once people are in the door, it's just when people approach, they go mental. It scares the crap out of visitors though, and I'm at my wits end..

Answer 1

If you're willing to do some work and are determined to train them, start by keeping them on leashes. Take control!

Teach them to sit and stay at the door - at first when it's quiet and there's no one there. Open and close the door yourself twenty times. Tap lightly on it as if someone were knocking. Pick a new command - a word that they're not already immune to - like STOP! or ENOUGH! Every single bark after that command must be corrected. Use a leash tug, try a spray bottle of water in their faces or a squirt of lemon juice in their mouths - find something they just hate. Use a correction word like "ATT!" and repeat your quiet command - "STOP!"

When they do that well, then add distractions. Ask you friends to come over and help you. They'll probably be delighted to help - they probably hate it as much as you do. Practice for at least fifteen minutes straight, every day for a month or two. Have your friend just stand on the stoop at first, then knock lightly, then ring the bell, then pound on the door.

If the doorbell rings unexpectedly, the dogs should be allowed to bark for about fifteen seconds or as long as it takes you to get to the door. Don't hold them in your arms or pet them to "calm them down" - that makes them feel like you've got their backs and you approve. Make them sit and stay at the door - jumping and spinning around like nuts is not okay either. Even the most determined yapper will eventually give up if you are consistent.

Answer 2

Go here for the best dog training couse http://dog-training.gelaf.info

Since it is obvious that you do not have a clue about obedience training, your services should be for free. You cannot train even an adult dog for 8 hours a day. About the most that can be done at any one time is 10 - 20 minutes and that is with an adult dog and not a puppy. The attention span on this baby is extremely short and training session should be no more than 10 minutes and twice a day. Additionally, there isn't going to be much learned if you will only be training for 5 days. Obedience training is cumulative and is done over a much longer period of at least several weeks to several months.
What you can charge is determined by your experience, reputation, and accomplishments and in a case like this, should also include guaranteed expectations. Just working with dogs over several years, is not the experience that is necessary to be a dog trainer. There are too many people who are putting that title to their name and fleecing the public. Don't be one of them.

Answer 3

Find what motivates your dog. Some dogs do anything for food. Some dogs do anything for Toys. Some do anything for a good petting. Some do anything for only one type of food, like cheese, or hotdog. Some only have interest in training for 5 minutes at a time, and others can go for an hour. Figure out what your dog is willing to work for, and then work with her in sessions that are no longer than she can tolerate. How to train your dog properly https://tr.im/H3J67

Sign up for a dog obedience training class. It will not train your dog. It will give you training on how you can train your dog. Most people understand the idea of training, but there is a right and a wrong way to do it, and there is good and bad technique. Timing and consistency is very important, and it helps to have feedback of someone watching you who can help you improve your technique to get more efficient results with your dog.

However, she may be somewhat anxious around other dogs, sort of like the shy kid on the playground. She will benefit from continuing what you are doing as far as asking her to sit before entering, but there are more things along those lines that will help her to calmly go in and out of the dog park. She may also benefit from going in short bursts, or only when fewer dogs are present, or avoiding times when other dogs that make her nervous are present. Maybe she just plays loud - my brother's dog is this way - or maybe she is a dogpark bully - sorry it is possible. But more likely she is just a little anxious around new dogs and she wants to play but just doesn't quite know how to do that and still feel comfortable. Don't be surprised if your dog does not actually like the dog park, and maybe she would get more enjoyment and less stress out of simply going for a good walk somewhere else.

A wagging tail does not mean that your dog is happy or even comfortable with the situation. It means your dog is emotionally aroused. This could be a happy arousal, or it could be a nervous arousal, or it could be an aggressive arousal. Go youtube it, there are plenty of videos of 'vicious' dogs who are throwing a very aggressive fit of barking and snarling while their tail is wagging vigorously. Even police dogs who are not let off the leash to chase down a suspect can be lunging and barking and snarling, and their tails are still going.

Answer 4

You could try an anti bark collar. Our dogs do this and we are fine with it so long as they stop when we invite the person in. Keeps burgalars at bay.

To fix it, when the dog barks Hold him tightly by his collar and tell him to sit. Praise the sitting even though he really has little choice.
You will need to do this a LOT depending on the age of the dog.

If he is older than 3 you may never stop hime barking and just have to remove him from the house every time he does in order to tell him that you do not allow barking in the house

Answer 5

There are shock collars you can get that will shock the dog whenever it barks. It doesn't hurt them, but just reminds them after a while not to bark.

Answer 6

This is an ingrained instinct in dogs. You are all part of the same pack, they are just warning 'the pack' (that's you!) that someone is coming.

I personally encourage my dog to bark when someone approaches the house, it lets people know they can't break in and makes me feel safer.

Answer 7

Call the dog whisperer from TV...he seems to do a great job with things like that...or some pet stores give classes for dogs :) I would try the dog whisperer first, he's cooler!

Answer 8

get a bark collar from the pet store.and put it on the dog it want take long for the dog to find out its doing and your dogs will stop soon after.

Answer 9

Hey there,
I recommend this dog training course: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572
. It has fantastic videos on dog training. It explains good, gentle, simple and effective techniques to stop stop unwanted behaviours of your dog. I recommend it.
Cheers.

Answer 10

That's what dogs are supposed to do. They are there to protect you and your family.
This is a good thing. Just don't freak and they won't either.