Stop dog barking every time someone knows on door with 3 easy methods

Dog owners who are fed up with their pets barking every time someone knocks on the door can now breathe a sigh of relief.

A pet charity has shared some handy tips to help train your pooch to stop reacting so dramatically to visitors. Many dogs have a habit of barking loudly and rushing towards the door whenever they hear a knock, making it difficult for owners to welcome guests into their homes.

Woodgreen Pets Charity has posted a video on TikTok giving three tips to stop your dog barking at the door. These are practical solutions to this common problem.

Break the habit

Firstly, the charity suggests using a baby gate or keeping your dog on a lead to prevent them from “rushing up to people when they arrive.” This will limit their access to the front door and keep them at a safe distance.

Teach your dog what you want them to do

Secondly, Woodgreen recommends training your dog to go to their bed when they hear a knock on the door, rewarding them with a treat when they do so. They suggest giving extra treats if the dog remains in their bed patiently while you open the door.

This method teaches your dog to stay calm when there’s a knock and lets them know they will be rewarded for good behaviour.

Make the door boring

Finally, the charity advises making the sound of the door less exciting for your dog. They recommend: “Practice playing doorbell and door knocking sounds at a low volume whilst your dog’s eating their meals.”

The charity explains that this will make the sound less triggering for your dog, and you can gradually increase the volume over time, as long as your dog doesn’t react. VCA Animal Hospitals has shed light on the instinctual behaviour of dogs, noting that as a species they are “genetically predisposed to territorial behaviour.”

The organisation explained: “Barking at the door reflects this tendency. Territorial behavior keeps potentially harmful intruders from getting too close to a dog’s valuable safe space.”

The website further details how such actions can be self-reinforcing for canines: “The behaviour is self-rewarding in many ways. When a shy or cautious dog barks at a passing person and that person moves away, the dog is spared from a close and potentially uncomfortable interaction.”

Also, VCA Animal Hospitals pointed out another common reason dogs bark at the door, particularly sociable ones, is anticipation of guests. It explained: They may even believe that their barking made the door open faster.

“After all, most people do indeed hurry to the door and open it for their visitor, even while their dog is barking beside them. In this case, barking is self-rewarding because it allows the dog to interact with a friend.”

However, VCA Animal Hospitals also warned of the potential dangers associated with this behaviour: “Unfortunately, there are some risks involved with this excited barking at the door. A dog that is overly excited may not calm down quickly enough after the visitor enters and, in their excitement, may enthusiastically jump up and frighten or injure the visitor.”