Anything I can do to encourage barking?

[Jen and Annie]

This sounds like a dumb question and "Why would anyone ask for this - What is wrong with you?" but hear me out.

I have always had dogs, and will likely always have at least one.  I got Annie (a labradoodle) based on the 'breed's' general characteristics of having superior intelligence, sweet dispositions, good with kids, friendly when meeting new people, non-agressive, and DARN CUTE Hairdo's.

I love Annie to death and I would not trade her for the world.  She is still young at 8 1/2 months old - but I feel she is practically useless as a guard or alert dog.  I love that she doesn't bark at strange people when we are out for a walk, but really would appreciate if she would bark when someone comes to the door, or if she hears a strange noise.  Is there a way to train this into her, or will she perhaps grow into becoming a little more alert around the house?  Right now if someone knocks on the door - she just stands there wagging her tail, looking at me like "yes!  hurry up - you gonna let them in?"

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that she doesn't bark in public, but I like the sound of a dog barking if a stranger is at the door and I don't want to open it.  I've had dogs in the past that have scared potential intruders away. 

I don't need her to lunge or act crazy - just alert that someone is at the door so the person on the other side knows that there is a large dog inside.  Is there a way to train this or should I just hope that she will become a little more protective as she gets older...?

 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I suppose you could train her but I am not sure how. My two bark like the devil is at the door.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack barks too....I never have told him no bark......I will tell him. Okay good job...now come!!, I will call him to me but I don't ever and never have stopped him from barking ....I actually tell him "good boy" when he tells me someone is there .....

I think but I don't know for sure if ever Annie barks at the door you can say good girl....I don't know if I am right...just what I do...more people have more experience then me.

[Jen and Annie]

I figured if she EVER DOES bark at the door, I would reward her for alerting me - she just has never done it!  One time she growled at a plastic bag blowing in the wind - LOL, and I told her she was a good girl for that.

When someone knocks on the door, she just gets really excited for me to open it so she can meet whoever's out there! 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara didn't become an alert barker until she was about 2 years old. It took her a while to find her voice.  She now barks and then looks at us with a  "Well? Aren't you going to do something?" look on her face.  Now she alerts at the door AND at the telephone!

[Jen and Annie]

so there's still hope....

[Becka]

Sadie also didn't find her bark until she was about 8  or 9 months. Now she barks when people come to the door. When we're in the yard, she also barks if there are strange people (meaning people other than my neighbors) in the neighbors' yards. I don't know how she knows this, because she can't see through the fence, but she never barks when the neighbors make noise--only if they have guests or people working on their houses.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Smart girl!

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Stanlee didn't start barking until about a month, month and a half ago.  Before then, our older dog would bark and Stan would jump on the door waiting to see who was coming to visit and play.  Now he barks if he hears someone knock on the door (but not if it is someone using a key) or if he see's the neighbor while out in the yard.  I think he barks more in his sleep than he does awake, though.

 

I've never trained a dog to bark but I'm sure there is a way.  Keep us posted!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I taught Daphne to "speak" by clicking and treating her whenever she barked naturally. Now I say "speak" and she will bark. I imagine you could teach that and then progress to asking her to speak when someone knocks on the door. She will eventually connect the dots and just bark when someone is at the door.

[Jen and Annie]

Oh thats a good idea.  She knows the clicker, and has picked up on everything I've trained using clicker training SO FAST.  I could teach her to 'speak' and then have my husband knock on the door - give the speak command and then practice that for awhile until she picks up the fact that a knock on the door means to speak..  Thank you!!  We'll give that a try..

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I love the clicker! Daphne never barked much before she learned that. Now she does bark if someone comes to the door or if leaves blow across the driveway and she can see them from the window. 

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

She may, indeed, grow into it.  As a puppy, Sedona rarely barked.  In fact, when she was in Puppy Class, we had a hard time with the "bark inhibition" section of the class because she rarely barked.  Now, at 3 years old, she barks when "strangers" come to the door, at the horses next door, at delivery trucks, etc.