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...?

 

 

[Judy, Meg & Polly Wolly Doodle]

Meg is not a barker and has to work to make herself speak on command, we do better with 'whisper' and she just claps her mouth open and shut.  In the past we had great danes and we always did a very excited "who's there" when someone came to the door to get them excited and bark, as we looked out the door we would tell them "it's okay, sit" and it worked well.  You might try that.

Disclaimer...Meg is an over enthusiastic greeter when someone comes to the door so we have never came close to trying to get her excited but that is on our agenda for the near future.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Just noticed that my response from yesterday did not post (computer/internet problems).  But, a nonbarker sounds wonderful to me.  Our latest addition (an ALD) is a definitely barker and barks when anyone comes near the house or even walks by on the street.  Oh, and the "brown truck"!  That guy pulls into our driveway and then brings packages to the door!  He hates that.  One day he was outside and chased the truck down the hill.  My other two were not big barkers, but Hondo  used to bark once when he wanted back in the house, then wait, then bark twice, wait, then three times.  If we did not let him in then, we would walk over and look into the house from the deck to see what we were doing. 

I would try teaching her to speak on command.  You can get her to speak when she wants a treat, then extend the command to other times you want her to bark.  She will make the connection that she needs to let you know when someone is at the door.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I wanted a smaller dog than our projected 50-60lb labradoodle, but my DH insisted he wanted a dog that would protect us.  Quincy is now 9 months old and 50 lbs and has barked approximately 10 times- maybe less.  One of the first times was at 2AM when my college son was home and came up the stairs after a late movie.  He has also barked at the snow coming down from the sky.  In fairness, there was the one time that my cleaning lady brought her sister to help.  We were upstairs when they came in and Quincy did not react at all until 10 minutes later when we went downstairs and he saw her.  He cowered behind me, barking up a storm running into another room!  But that's it so far!  I am not, however, encouraging him.  I think he will actually grow into it and in the meantime, I like the quiet!

[Jen and Annie]

Heavens to Betsy - I spoke too soon.  I'm sitting here working on my computer.  All is quiet.  I hear a muffled low bark, which sounded like my 10 year old boxer.  I look over, and Annie is sitting on the chair looking out the window, but my boxer is fast asleep!  I think Annie just protected me with a bark - granted, no one would have been able to hear it outside, and there was absolutely nothing outside to bark at, but a little wind.  But I think she just gave me a glimmer of being protective....

Either that or my Boxer barked in her sleep, which has happened before - but it sounded like an intentional bark, so I'm going with my initial theory that it was Annie!