Who cares, a good alert dog is worth his/her weight in gold. You don't need a reason, just sit back and relax. He can be trained to settle after an established amount of barks or after you know who is at the door.
My dog ONLY barks when someone is at the door
Hi everyone!
I have a handsome 4 years old (human years) lab mix who we rescued when he was just 6 weeks old. He communicates with us via eye contact and body language like sitting directly infront of us, passing us by and when he does he makes eye contact and if we ignore him and he really needs to potty he'll do a soft bark which is very rare. However, when someone either knocks on the door or the door bell rings he barks like crazy and gets very jumpy. Why does he do this? I have no problem with it I love it as a matter of fact but does he do this to protect us?
I have a handsome 4 years old (human years) lab mix who we rescued when he was just 6 weeks old. He communicates with us via eye contact and body language like sitting directly infront of us, passing us by and when he does he makes eye contact and if we ignore him and he really needs to potty he'll do a soft bark which is very rare. However, when someone either knocks on the door or the door bell rings he barks like crazy and gets very jumpy. Why does he do this? I have no problem with it I love it as a matter of fact but does he do this to protect us?
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Unless he's threatening to the guests in any manner, he's just letting you know someone is there. This is in our Elkhounds blood and we have no problem with it providing he stops when asked- and he would always stop once we opened the door. We taught him the command "Thank you." and he is highly praised for alerting and stopping when asked.
We taught him this with just a clicker and some treats and capturing the behavior. My boyfriend would go outside and knock on the door. He would start barking and the split second he was quiet (generally he would alert and then briefly look to me) "Thank you" click, treat.
We taught him this with just a clicker and some treats and capturing the behavior. My boyfriend would go outside and knock on the door. He would start barking and the split second he was quiet (generally he would alert and then briefly look to me) "Thank you" click, treat.
I do the same thing with my little dog, maybe even a step further.
After the dog alerts by going to the door and barking, I come to the back of the foyer (not walking to the door yet) and say "thank you for letting me know someone is here" and I start walking toward the treat jar. The dog has to follow me away from the door and be quiet to get the treat. This transfers responsibility for the door to me - the pack leader. Then we both walk to the door together (i keep my hand on her) to greet the person there.
It helps that I can see the caller thru the glass in the door - so I don't reward for random going to the door to bark or barking at anyone walking on the sidewalk.
You want the dog to alert for someone at the door, you want to train them that there is no need to go insane about it.
After the dog alerts by going to the door and barking, I come to the back of the foyer (not walking to the door yet) and say "thank you for letting me know someone is here" and I start walking toward the treat jar. The dog has to follow me away from the door and be quiet to get the treat. This transfers responsibility for the door to me - the pack leader. Then we both walk to the door together (i keep my hand on her) to greet the person there.
It helps that I can see the caller thru the glass in the door - so I don't reward for random going to the door to bark or barking at anyone walking on the sidewalk.
You want the dog to alert for someone at the door, you want to train them that there is no need to go insane about it.
Sounds like a blessing to me!
I've personally known some labs that bark at everything! Repeatedly, well after their initial point has been made!
My dog is pretty much the same way at home... He only barks, just a couple times, when there is a knock at our door... But if he hears something "suspicious" he'll growl really low.
When we're at work, he barks like mad when he knows it's time to go home! lmao!
I've personally known some labs that bark at everything! Repeatedly, well after their initial point has been made!
My dog is pretty much the same way at home... He only barks, just a couple times, when there is a knock at our door... But if he hears something "suspicious" he'll growl really low.
When we're at work, he barks like mad when he knows it's time to go home! lmao!
I think this is a good thing.
Don't do the stupid thing like I did. I took my barely barking dog, taught her to speak on command and turned her into a barking monster.
Just be happy that your dog only barks at the door. Oh if that were still true in my case!
Don't do the stupid thing like I did. I took my barely barking dog, taught her to speak on command and turned her into a barking monster.
Just be happy that your dog only barks at the door. Oh if that were still true in my case!
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