[nancygail]

Hello!

I have a 5-year-old terrier mix and I've struggled to find an answer to the following teaching scenario:

He can see out our front door and will bark if anyone walks up to the house. I want him to do this. However, I want him to stop barking after he's alerted us.

He is not aggressive nor an excessive barker, though he sometimes barks when he sees people people across the street. I don't want him doing that either.

Is there any good method for teaching a dog to alert bark and then stop?

Thanks so much!

Nancy Ü

 

[K9luv]

I would suggest to put "speaking" on cue. It is then easier to get across the "that's enough, that'll do" or whatever cue to stop speaking.

Maybe I would sit with her at the door window and when someone is across the street, encourage her to just "watch" calmly. Tell her she's a good girl for just "watch", "good girl watch". I personally do it with a very calm voice, I "tell" my pup what's going on and give it a name such as "a person". I had to sit often with him at first, but it did work to keep him from barking/alerting when I don't need him to. Same with neighbors, I don't need him to tell me everytime they are out 😉

 

[nancygail]

I would suggest to put "speaking" on cue. It is then easier to get across the "that's enough, that'll do" or whatever cue to stop speaking.

Maybe I would sit with her at the door window and when someone is across the street, encourage her to just "watch" calmly. Tell her she's a good girl for just "watch", "good girl watch". I personally do it with a very calm voice, I "tell" my pup what's going on and give it a name such as "a person". I had to sit often with him at first, but it did work to keep him from barking/alerting when I don't need him to. Same with neighbors, I don't need him to tell me everytime they are out 😉

Thanks so much! That's a great idea. Ü

 

[K9luv]

Oops just reread and saw your dog is a 'he'. 😂 Well, oops "good boy watch".

Another idea, you could teach "little whoophs or whisper" (speak quietly). Often my pup knows not to bark at night or at the neighbors, so he will do little whoophs, I don't mind that and encourage/allow it instead of full out barking.

 

[3GSD4IPO]

My dog greets anyone at the door on his hind feet looking through the window barking and acting like he is ready to take on the world (and he is). I want this behavior but after I get to the door I want him to stop IF it is someone who is welcome. IF it is a person who he knows, I will put him in a platz (down) and he WILL stay there as I let the person in. I then instruct the person to IGNORE THE DOG. The dog is required to maintain the platz and then I give him a new job (go to bed or to another location) and platz again. Dogs can rarely do two jobs at once so while focusing on platz he is not barking etc.

If it is someone the dog does not know or someone I think is incapable of IGNORING THE DOG I make them wait outside and I "put the dog up" which means in his kennel in the basement (full size dog kennel). THEN I let the person in.

I would say that he is put up in his kennel 99% of the time.

 

[nancygail]

My dog greets anyone at the door on his hind feet looking through the window barking and acting like he is ready to take on the world (and he is). I want this behavior but after I get to the door I want him to stop IF it is someone who is welcome. IF it is a person who he knows, I will put him in a platz (down) and he WILL stay there as I let the person in. I then instruct the person to IGNORE THE DOG. The dog is required to maintain the platz and then I give him a new job (go to bed or to another location) and platz again. Dogs can rarely do two jobs at once so while focusing on platz he is not barking etc.

If it is someone the dog does not know or someone I think is incapable of IGNORING THE DOG I make them wait outside and I "put the dog up" which means in his kennel in the basement (full size dog kennel). THEN I let the person in.

I would say that he is put up in his kennel 99% of the time.

Very helpful. Appreciate the info!