Not barking at doorbell...door sounds

SadiesMom

Can you share some of your successful methods for stopping your Weim from barking at the doorbell or front door sounds...she even barks when I put the key in the door to enter. I am feeling very overwhelmed...the former owner said she will bark...and bark she does...she doesn't stop until she sees who is at the door and it's hard to hold her back.

Thanks

SirSilver · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

I would also love to see what responses come up in this thread...Calvin goes NUTS over the doorbell. We are nervous about Halloween!! He will not calm down until he's seen the person and greeted them, which is just not an option all the time!

anne · Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:03 pm Post subject:

You want the dog to bark usually with weird noises so it's far less confusing to teach your dog a quiet command.

Get a lot of food ready and then do something to induce the barking. After he barks a time or 2, tell him quiet and then give him the food at the same time you are giving the quiet command. The chewier the better, as the dog cannot chew and bark at the same time, and also his attention should be directed toward the food now. Repeat. When the dog starts to turn to you in expectation of the food after you say "quiet" then the dog is getting it. You can start giving intermittent rewards at this point, and also lengthen the time between him being quiet and giving the treat. If he starts barking again, I would give him a verbal cue that that is the wrong answer (ah-ah! is what I usually use). Wait for him to be quiet again and then treat.