Tips to Prevent Dogs from Barking at Guests
It's completely natural for dogs to bark. It's how they communicate with their packs and with us. They're supposed to alert us when there is something going on.
It's even okay when you have guests if your dog is just alerting you that they have arrived. But when he keeps barking at them all the time that they’re there, it can be embarrassing for you and very unnerving for them.
A Natural Instinct
The thing is it’s a natural instinct for your dog to protect his territory and his pack, and considering that you are part of his pack, he will go out of his way to look after you.
In fact, if you have a healthy relationship with your dog, you're the leader of his pack. So he's got a natural instinct and social duty to keep you alerted to any potential threats to the pack.
Should Stop Once They Know There Is No Threat
While it is quite normal for dogs to bark when they believe there is a threat, if your dog barks incessantly even after they know there is no threat, you must do something about it as soon as possible. So, what do you do to stop your dog from barking at your guests?
Prevent Barking With Treats
Positive reinforcement always works well with dogs and kids, and excessive barking is no different.
Next time visitors come to your door, have a treat in your hand when you open the door, allow your dog to bark a few times, and praise him for barking with a “good boy” or “good dog.” Then, after showing your dog the treat, give him a command to stop, and as soon as he stops barking, give him the treat and praise him again.
When he barks at your guests again, repeat the process all over again. Do this every time someone comes to your door, gradually lengthening the time each time that you give him the treat. Keep a box of treats near the door, and have your visitors give him a treat as they arrive. He will eventually realize that when visitors come to your door, it’s treat time for him, and he will stop barking at them while your guests are visiting you.
Prevent Barking By Interrupting Your Dog
Recommended Product: NPS Dog Bark Deterrent Device |
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One way to get a dog that barks a lot to stop (when there's no real reason to be barking), is to interrupt the behavior. Sonic devices like the NPS Dog Bark Deterrent Device use sound to do that, and like a dog whistle, it's pitched too high for humans to hear - so you ca get your dog's attention without waking up the neighborhood! These devices are safe to use, and because they're battery-operated, they can be taken anywhere. So, even if your dog tends to bark excessively when you're out, this can help. |
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Another method you can use to stop your dogs when they are barking excessively at guests is to interrupt them.
One of the best ways to do this is to use a sonic device. You could use a dog whistle or even a clicker if you do clicker training. Or you could invest in a battery-powered device like the one above.
Sometimes, all it takes to break unwanted behavior like excessive barking at guests is to interrupt your dog every time they do the unwanted behavior. Eventually, they'll stop as soon as they see the whistle or device.