Dog trainers are frequently questioned about this because it is such a widespread issue for dog owners nationwide, and I’m happy to provide some practical solutions.
There are a number of plausible explanations for why so many dogs freak out when the doorbell or knocks are heard. Here are a few:
Dogs are constantly observing us and their surroundings, and they may pick up on cues that we are unaware of. I recently had the pleasure of working with a lovely Deep South woman. She recently took in a big shelter dog and is very amiable. The dog had started to bark whenever anyone rang the doorbell or knocked on the door (and she had a loud bark!). I was making good progress as I reframed the meaning of those sounds for the dog when, out of the blue, I added these words in a singsong tone that I have heard many people from the South use: “Who is it?”
And that set the dog off, and she immediately barked. The owner’s “who is it?” question had evolved into a signal to bark. In all actuality, this dog was indeed a well-trained dog!.
By pushing the dog down, kneeing it, pinching its front paws, or running around like a lunatic while yelling, “Off! Off! Off, Fido! Off!” owners can also unintentionally cause chaos at the door.
In dog training, we have a saying: You get what you reinforce. While the aforementioned actions may seem harsh to us humans, a dog may interpret them as playtime. In contrast, some dogs will tolerate critical comments from a human because it still qualifies as human attention. Frequently, none of these efforts will succeed in stopping the frantic door behavior.
Additionally, I never support training animals with physical force. Why go there when there are so many other methods that don’t involve using force to train animals?
#BONUS: They’re simply annoyed
“Hooman, will it stop ringing if I destroy it?”
Dogs might also bark out of irritation.
They could be resting or happily playing with their toys. Until….
A loud annoying buzz echoes in the room.
Well, everyone will get angry too when interrupted. So, it could be understandable.
But if it consistently occurs and they react strongly, it is better to take into account the other factors mentioned above.
#2: Teach them calm is the way
Have an overly excited pooch instead?
Uh-oh. It’ll be hard when you often have visitors at home.
The good news is that you can try these easy techniques to make them calm down.
First, sit close to the door. Then ask someone to help you ring the doorbell. It could be a neighbor, friend, or another family member.
Ignore your dog’s barking and wait until they have calmed down.
Staying still and doing nothing will be hard. particularly if they’re pawing you and giving you their puppy-dog eyes.
But just hold it in. It’s for their sake as well, not only yours. As it’s not good to be always aroused by everything.
Now, if they’ve calmed down, open the door. And allow them to greet the visitor.
That would be their reward for being a good pooch. There won’t be any treats for this one because they only want to see other people.
Repeat this until they understand that maintaining composure is essential when approaching people.
First off, the type of training you’re trying to do with your dogs doesn’t call for this flipping them over technique. You want to teach your dogs to associate the doorbell with nothing special, but by employing a tactic meant to stop an aggressive dog, you may be inadvertently training them to react more nervously or aggressively when they hear the doorbell.
Consider it from your dog’s perspective; you don’t want them to learn that the sound of the doorbell means their humans will attack them.
It’s appropriate to use the doorbell, but you should help your dog associate it with a soothing and enjoyable sound. You’re halfway there if your dogs are already taught to sit calmly while you give them treats.
My three dogs have been a challenge because they bark nonstop whenever the doorbell rings. We’ve been ringing the doorbell, flipping them over, and growling in their faces to tell them that’s not how they should act to correct them. Can I stop them from barking at the doorbell in any other way?
Eventually, you’ll be able to do away with the treats. Finally, since you mentioned having three dogs, concentrate your training efforts on the dominant dog. This will enable you to train all three dogs simultaneously.
FAQ
How do I keep my dog calm when the doorbell rings?
- Associate the Doorbell with Treats. Start by getting a family member or friend to ring the doorbell or knock, then give your pet a treat right away.
- Sit and Stay. Sit and stay are great behaviors for any dog.
- Front Door Control. …
- Tire Them Out.
Why do dogs get excited when the doorbell rings?
The doorbell sound is a learned association for your dog, and Pavlov’s bell caused the dogs to salivate in anticipation of feeding. The fact that the doorbell chime has been connected to the arrival of new people is probably the reason it causes an adrenaline rush.
Why does my dog go crazy when someone’s at the door?
When I ring the doorbell or knock on the door, the dogs go crazy up to several times per day. Dogs are great at quickly associating things, so every time the doorbell rings or they hear a knock, they assume someone is going to visit them.
Is it normal for dogs to bark when the doorbell rings?
You aren’t alone. Many dogs get overly excited when the doorbell rings. Dog owners (and visitors) find the jumping, barking, and lunging annoying, but our dogs find it stressful as well. Fortunately, you can reduce the behavior by imparting proper doorbell etiquette.