Barking like a madman when people at door

[Alli and Barkley]

Barkley started his newest bad habit- whenever anyone is at the door he barks- loudly- crazily.  He can't get to the door because its past our living room which he is gated off from, but he has a complete view of all the action that happens in there- makes him sit/stand at the gate and bark until given attention

 

I have tried putting him in a two minute time out but this just makes him more wild and frantic. Should we continue with the time outs or is there something new I should try?

 

This also happens anytime I leave his allowed area- so if I step into the kids playroom- (now that the stairs to it are gated) he BAAAAAAAAAAARKS, and if I go into the bathroom and close the door- BAAAAAAAAAAAAARK, and if I go into the living room- well you get the idea. 

[shelly]

Hi Alli.. I KNOW EXACTLY what yo are talking about... try and stop it NOW - or you will be in the predicament I am with Tori. (2 years later) We can't even have people come to our door without mayhem... I always say I am going to video tape it, but I may be kicked off DK if I post it - lol....but seriously, work on it.  Teach him to "go to his mat" and "stay' use treats, a clicker, whatever.  You can google you tube videos for on the spot how-tos.  Use a pillow or mat, whatever.  Probably a mat would be best right now, as a cushioned mat or pillow-dog bed type thing may only make him go into 'crazy mode' and start pulling, digging or attacking the pillow - now that he has found his 'destroyer mode' with your shirt - lol.  Start without any distractions then just a knock at the door (by a helper) and don't open it until he stays.  It will probably take a while before he can do this without breaking, but believe me - it will be worth it!  Good luck... remember - this is all normal puppy behavior!

[shelly]

Here's a couple of  links... but there are so many - go to youtube and type "go to your mat"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGGz_ITDSdk

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w76G116EbUw&feature=related

[Alli and Barkley]

thank you so so much!  Will check them out now.  

 

[28m8zeod7x4sq]

kind of ironic your puppy's name is Barkley!  I have a barker too.  What your describing is exactly what my 9 month old goldendoodle does as well.  When we leave to go somewhere, and put him in his kennel, we can hear Peyton barking all the way in our garage, in our car with the doors shut!  Mine is a frantic barker just like yours.  I can hardly hear the person at the door when our doorbell rings!  I can't wait to hear suggestions, b/c I need them too!   I just ordered a citronella bark collar on amazon.  Hasn't arrived yet, but gets good reviews.  Hoping it helps!

[Alli and Barkley]

unfortunately barkley has started this and he is only 8 weeks old lol.  Dog learns fast doesnt he

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm wondering how teaching Barkley to "go to his place" will address the barking?  He could go to his place and still bark.  They seem like two separate things to me.  Have you started any training with him yet?  If yes, are you using any corrections?  Are you using a "nothing in life is free" approach, so that he's starting to see you as a leader?  To me these are all foundational to addressing a behavior issue like barking excessively.  If you are training with treats and only positive reinforcement, I'd start training "quiet".  If he's barking, give the quiet command and treat the minute he stops....over and over and over.  You may have to get someone to help you by repeatedly coming to your door.  If you're using corrections, I would give the "quiet" command and if he doesn't stop his barking, I would correct him.....then when he does stop lots of praise (and a treat if you use them for training).  Again, this would need to be constantly reinforced.  If you aren't consistent, and he's allowed to get away with barking "sometimes", then I think it would just be confusing.  With my guys now, I just have to give the "quiet" command and walk toward them (backing them up) very authoritatively...they stop.  I do it EVERY single time.  Their barking has lessened significantly, and now it takes some pretty major noise outside for them to even consider barking.  Good luck.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Somehow Barkley has assocaited barking with getting your attention.   Either by talking, touching, petting or something else.  I believe Shelly is talking about using the "place" command with the doorbell issue.  It is especially helpful when having visitors, dinner or during other activities you prefer Barkley not participate.  What I do is teach a command for quiet.  Once they understand what quiet means I ignore them after saying it.  The way I have done this is by using treats.  When the barking starts I say "Quiet", once they stop, treat within 3 seconds and praise like crazy.   I continue doing this for a few for a while to make sure they understand, but stop treating and only give praise.  It doesn't take them long to associate quiet with no barking.  But then comes the hard part, ignoring them once the command is given.  Otherwise they will think stop barking only needs to be done sometimes.  I also have/had a couple stubborn dogs that would continue no matter what.  So I used the old method of a squirt bottle.  Some think it makes them scared of people with squirt bottles.  What I've found is they realize squirting only happens when they bark.  Instead of using quiet, I use "enough" which works for not only barking, but only things I want them to stop doing.  A squirt bottle is basically the same thing as a bark collor with citronella.  The only advantage is the collar works when you are not there.  Which is very useful if your dog barks constantly while your gone.  I agree stop it before it becomes to much of a unwanted behavior.     

[Lindsey]

I agree with the comments that he has associated barking with getting attention.
This sounds crazy and it's really hard to do, but you need to start ignoring him (now) when he barks.
If you don't you're going to end up with a dog that has seperation anxiety...I've been there, NO FUN!!!!

Our Molly would bark her head off when we put her in her crate at night. It was soooo hard and I literally had to force my DH NOT to go and let her out, she barked for an hour straight the first night. Frantic, jumping, crying, barking...but we ignored her and didn't give her the attention she was barking for. Eventually she stopped...the next night she barked again but for a shorter period of time....we've had her over a month now and she doesn't bark at all in her crate or if we're in another room.

Now, if a person comes to the door she will bark, but I take her away from the room the person just entered and either crate her or make her stay in that seperate room and ignore her completely. Eventually she learned that just b/c she barks doesn't mean she's going to get my attention. Once she's calmed down and quiet, I'll either go and give her a treat ( a bully stick to chew on) or let her out to meet our guest.
However, don't take him away and give him a treat...he will associate his barking at people as a good thing b/c you rewarded him. He has to be quiet for a good period of time before you give him a treat.

[Alli and Barkley]

Duh- that makes so much sense Lindsey- I was offering him a kong when I was expecting people- they would arrive, he'd bark for a bit, I would give him the kong to distract.  All I was doing was rewarding the behavior..... back to the drawing board lol

 

 

[Lindsey]

Ha! oh don't worry...he is still young, so you can still train him not to bark. Just because you have been giving him a treat doesn't mean you can't stop now and break him of that habit :-)
It's really annoying at first, listening to a dog bark- the only thing you want to do is make the noise STOP, lol, but if you will just put up with it for now and ignore him, eventually he will stop because he is not getting what it is he is wanting- attention.
I wouldn't worry with treats until he has been quiet for a good 10 minutes.

Our Molly recently started barking at people passing by on the street, while she was suppose to be outside doing her business. We walk to the door and tell her to hush and then shut it- we don't let her in right away b/c we also don't want her to associate barking her head off with getting to come in. She gets to come inside on our terms. After she has been quiet for a good 5 or 10 minutes we go back outside and give her a treat, sometimes after she eats her treat she gets to come back inside or we have her stay outside for a little bit longer and after she still hasn't barked for a few more minutes, we let her back in.
It's annoying, frustrating and hard at first...but stick with it and you'll def. see a big difference!