E232- STOP your dog from barking at the front door!
Nov 6, 2023
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Tom Davis discusses strategies to stop dogs from barking at the front door, including redirecting attention, obedience training with distractions, and addressing the reasons behind the barking
Dogs bark at the front door due to conditioned behavior and their instinct to protect, so trying to completely stop the barking may not be realistic but redirecting their behavior through obedience and control can help.
Having a solid foundation of obedience training is crucial to address reactivity at the front door, as it allows you to ask for advanced obedience in distracting scenarios and sets your dog up for managing their reactivity successfully.
Deep dives
Understanding Reactivity at the Door
Reactivity at the door is a common issue for many dog owners. When a dog barks at the door, it is a normal and natural response due to conditioned behavior. Dogs bark at the door because it represents a stranger's presence and their instinct to protect. Trying to completely stop the barking may not be realistic. Instead, the focus should be on redirecting the dog's behavior through obedience and control.
Importance of Training Foundation
To address reactivity at the door, it is crucial to have a solid foundation of obedience training. Before attempting to counter the reactivity, make sure your dog has mastered basic obedience commands at different difficulty levels. Asking for advanced obedience in a highly distracting scenario, such as when someone is at the front door, requires a strong foundation in obedience training. By developing the necessary obedience skills, you set your dog up for success in managing their reactivity.
Teaching the Place Command and Alternatives
One effective approach to address reactivity is using the place command. Teach your dog to go to a designated spot, like a bed, away from the door when someone arrives. This helps redirect their attention and prevents them from rushing towards the door. Start with training the place command in low-distraction environments and gradually increase difficulty. Additionally, consider alternative tasks to redirect your dog's focus, such as teaching them to 'leave it.' By providing your dog with a job or alternate behavior, you can help manage their reactivity at the door.
In this dog training podcast, Tom Davis discusses something most of you guys deal with! The crazy barking at the door when someone rings or knocks on that front door. Tom talks about why this happens and the steps you should take to decrease it significantly.