Barking at the door

[Holly Doodle]

Hi all!
I have a problem which I thought we had resolved, but has suddenly returned with a vengeance! Holly barks excessively any time the door opens, someone knocks, the doorbell rings, or the garage door opens. It's not just a few quick barks to alert us, it goes on for 2-3 minutes! And, if someone is actually at the door, she barks at them when they come in for 2-3 minutes. We had this problem around 5-6 months, and we figured out that if we put her in her crate when we knew company was coming over, she wouldn't bark. It has recently started again at 11 months, and nothing we have tried has worked! Here's what we've done so far (all have been unsuccessful) :
1. Giving treats when any of these four occur, to distract her before she gets a chance to bark.
2. Ignoring her completely, we even went as far as not answering the door until she stopped barking.
3. Randomly ringing the doorbell and knocking throughout the day and giving her treats to desensitize and associate the sound with getting a treat.
4. Using a water bottle to spray her in the face when she barks at the door.

I wouldn't mind if it were just one or two barks, but it goes on for a few minutes and it's very annoying when we have guests. It doesn't help that a lot of our family members are not dog fans, so we really want them to like her and welcome her at family events etc. I would love to hear any other ideas or things that have worked for you. Thank you!
Laci

[Melissa]

I haven't experienced this problem, but I saw something similar on "It's Me or the Dog". The dog would bark when the TV was turned on. She actually removed the dog into another room behind a closed door. When it would stop barking it was allowed back in and the moment it started barking again back in the other room. Of course this took a long time and it might take a while for the dog to associate that hey if I bark I don't get to be around anyone. But it might be worth a try.

I think treats might reinforce the bad behavior. Hope you find a solution that works!

[shelly]

Oh Laci.... so much of what you have said sounds like you are talking about us and Tori... she too is a constant barker at passer-bys, delivery men, and guests. we have done everything you have stated and recently got a high pitched bark stopper, but... either she's deaf (not really) or it really doesn't bother her... I even try to head her off by saying in a real squeaky happily anticipated voice... OOOO look who's here.... yeah! but no.... I have noticed tho' that she tends to bark MORE and louder if we try and restrain her on a leash or move between the visitor and Tori.... I keep thinking that maybe I didn't socialize her well enough, but it kind of just came on suddenly. We have a large extended family, so she really is accustomed to a lot of people around.... Oh and one more thing.... if my son has friends over and they are outside... she really loses it... This is definitely going to really be something we work on this summer when I am off and home full time!!! I feel your frustration.. I will definitely be following this!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We had the same problem when Guinness was also about 6 months, and we were able to stop the behavior. Then Murphy arrived, and the barking returned. I don't know if Guinness was thinking he had to protect Murphy or what. So we had to back through the process of telling him "no" (very firmly) when he barked, and if he didn't stop he went into the crate. He no longer sleeps in a crate or is in there when we're out, so this was definitely a step back for him. Before this I had tried the "treat" method, but it really wasn't effective. It was like he was willing to forfeit the treat in order to bark. We got serious with this about two weeks ago. I have noticed the past few days it is much better. Today I kept the front and back doors open and he managed not to bark for the mailman or the dry cleaning delivery man. Now that I think about it I really don't think he barked at all today (except a few times at his brother when he was annoyed, which is fine with me - to me that's a whole different thing). I think he clearly understands that if he goes into a "barking frenzy" that means the crate, and he really wants to avoid that. I don't know if this would work for you, but it worked before with Guinness and it really seems to be helping now.

[Holly Doodle]

It's good to know that I'm not alone! You guys gave some great ideas. I think the hard part is that it's supposed to get better before it gets worse with behavior training, so it makes me think "if only we had stuck with it a few more days."
Melissa- I really like the idea of putting her in a different room when she barks. That's actually how we got her to stop barking when she was only 3 or 4 months, she would bark at us to get out of her crate, so we'd put her in her travel crate in the garage. If she was quiet she got to come back in. Maybe we can try this again...
Shelly-I also noticed it gets worse when we stand between her and the barking, and our neighbors just got a basketball hoop and it makes her go nuts!

Jane-We'll have to try the firm "no" also, do you just say it once and then ignore her if she continues? We usually put her in her crate when guests are coming over so she doesn't crowd them but maybe we will try to leave her out and use the kennel as the punishment if she barks.

I'm hoping this is just an adolescent thing, thanks for the ideas guys!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I say it once...or twice at the most. If the barking continues I don't ignore him...that's when he goes in the crate. It needs to be immediate. The message I'm sending is.....I'm in control and there is no reason for you to bark, so I'm going to tell you no when you do. If you're not going to stop, you'll need to go in your crate where I know that you'll stop...he never barks in the crate because he's removed from the doors. I only leave him in there for a few minutes, but he now totally gets that connection. Let us know how it works out.

[Holly Doodle]

Thanks, I'll keep you posted!

[Sandra Griffith]

I have often used the same technique. When the barking starts say "Too Bad" (not said angrily- use a neutral tone of voice), get Holly, and she goes in the crate for just 10 seconds. Then let her out. This helps to refocus her. It helps to have the crate near where she is barking. It helps to have a short leash on her so you can get her as soon as the barking commences (only leave the leash on when she can be supervised). Do NOT call her to you to put her in the crate. You do not want her to associate coming to you with being removed from the situation- go to her to get her. You may need to put her in extremely frequently at first but it does pay off.

I also find that it is important to acknowledge when there is a noise at the door and no barking occurs. So have the treats ready... If she doesn't bark at the sound of the doorbell or knock on the door out come the treats for her nice quiet response. This is only if she is quiet throughout.. It is best not to treat for a bark followed by a quiet pause as she might confuse this with being asked to bark at the sound of the doorbell or knock.

As with all training, consistency is very important. If she is allowed to bark sometimes and put in her crate other times it well be a much slower process to get over.
Let us know how it goes. I love her picture- such a sweet face!!

[shelly]

I tried putting her in her crate, but to catch her lift her while squirming it VERY difficult, and if I DO get her in, she's like a caged animal (well she is, but you know what I mean -lol). The way she barks and carries on, you would think she was this terrible, killer Cujo-dog! This truly just perplexes me... wish there was something she didn't like as much as the ear wash... maybe her brush... nah - don't think I want that association! LOL

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Sheila only barks when she sees squirrels or other prey out the patio door. I have been saying "quiet" and if she doesn't stop, I remove her from around the door or hold her and say quiet. But I like the crate idea better. I'll say quiet and if she doesn't, to the crate she will go.
How is this differenciated from the "settle" command?

[shelly]

We actually do use the word "settle". I usually try and stroke her back when I say it trying ti give some calming aid... but now I'm thinking, maybe that actually reinforces the barking???? Maybe???

[Holly Doodle]

We've made a lot of progress with the barking. The method we've been using is a combination of the spray bottle and a treat. If she barks she gets sprayed, if she's quiet she gets a treat. It's worked pretty well, she'll still bark once and then catch herself and look at us for a treat. Thanks for all of the advice. I think whichever method is used, consistency is the key! It's taken longer than we thought to start working, but I'm glad we didn't give up.

[shelly]

Yeah! A success story! I can't wait until vacation - (just 31 'school days', but who's counting - lol)-when I can seriously work on this too - with consistency!