help...can't get Miko to stop barking at the door!

[miko'smommie]

Oh my gosh...whenever Miko hears someone at the door she goes nuts. Even when someone comes in that she knows she continues to bark. I say "no"! It's not working! When I know my fiancee is coming home I say "no bark" when he is in the driveway about to come in. Unless I am physically holding her...she barks. The strange thing is that she only barks at the door. It's really weird...any suggestions?

[joeyk79]

I have the same issue, my boy will run to the door and barks whenever he hears someone or some kind of noise at the door..I yell at him he will stop but eventually keep doing it

[mylittletigger]

Here is a technique that a pet trainer uses from a PETsMART in Las Vegas. Get a soda can fill it with coins (pennies work best) dent it a little tape over the opening of it and whenever the dog barks shake the can and tell the dog firmly "NO" This will interupt their barking. If this doesn't help try squirting them with a water bottle and say "NO" firmly agian. But remember be very persistent. Best of luck.

[Nikko's_human]

My little one has a big mouth too. I live in an apartment building and when he hears anyone in the hallway he goes right over to the door and starts barking. I usually yell at him "NO BARK" but he completely ignores me. Lately I have started clapping my hands loudly while I yell "NO BARK" and sometimes it shuts him up. I am going to try the soda can thing. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Bonnie's Mom]

Bonnie does it to, even when it is my son's ringing the doorbell just to make her bark. She will watch them walk to the door and ring the doorbell and still go crazy barking!

[miko'smommie]

thanks for the advice...I think I'll try the soda can with pennies first...and if that doesn't work I'll try the water bottle....thanks for the advice.

[momof2yorkies]

The pop can idea sounds good I myself am going to try that one. I have the same problem with my dog Kali who has since trained the new puppy Meeko the same bad habit. Thanks

[FirstYorkie]

I think the noisy can thing might work (at least for a while), but IMHO, it's only half of the strategy. The other half is praise/reward. The second the barking dog gets quiet, praise heavily!!! "Good Dog, Quiet! Still quiet? "What a good puppy!" Still quiet? "You are so good! Let's go get a treat!"

If you wanted to work at it hard enough, you could teach that the doorbell is a cue to run to Mommy for a yummy treat.

Positive trainers say that instead of focusing on what the dog is doing that you DON'T want, figure out what you DO want instead. Then teach and reward that behavior. You could train "run to mommy for a treat" when the doorbell rings, or for the dog to "down" beside the door, or whatever you choose.

[SnowWa]

All my dogs do the same thing. They all get so excited when we have company. They quit immediately after someone comes in -- but certainly do want attention and want to be petted. After that - they're quiet.

With the puppy (who is learning to bark at the door by my other dog) - I just pick him up and we answer the door together. When he's in my arms, he doesn't bark. I also get between the door and my other dog and tell him to stop barking - he usually does. He thinks I'm not going to open the door until he stops barking. This usually works.

It's hard for me to train my dogs not to bark at the door. They are just too excited and love company so much. But, I can make them stop before I open the door.

My dogs are just excited. They are little and friendly --- so it doesn't really cause too much of a problem.


Lots of luck! Carol Jean

[Patti]

My pom is a horrible barker. I have tried everything and nothing works. She barks for no reason at all about 5 times a day, and if some one comes over she barks for 10 minutes. I hope she doesn't teach Cali this bad habit.