Does your dog bark at visitors whenever they visit your home? Though it’s quite annoying, it is normal for dogs to do this. All dogs communicate in different ways, and one of the problems that pet owners deal with is excessive barking at visitors. They do this to alert you of the presence of someone in your home. Therefore, they feel they are helpful and protective by barking.
Nevertheless, it becomes a problem and frustrating if the dog continues barking after the visitors are already inside your house. When you invite visitors to your home, you need to make them feel welcome and comfortable. It can be quite uncomfortable to have a dog that won’t stop barking whenever you have visitors.
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So how do I get my dog to stop barking at visitors? This is one of the frequently asked questions by dog owners. Here is a guide to teach you how to train your dog to stop barking excessively
1. Desensitization
Desensitization means slowly introducing your dog to what triggers it to change the behavior. If the dog barks whenever there is a ring on the doorbell, you can ask your helpful friend or neighbor to ring the doorbell after every hour. You should pretend that you didn’t hear the bell.
If he barks, you should ignore him. However, if he remains calm, make sure you praise and reward him. Repeat the process many times to make the doorbell ring normal for the dog.
2. Use Treats
Start by choosing an irresistible treat for your dog. Then invite your visit and allow the dog to meet the visitor. As soon as the dog starts barking, you should put the treat away. Then have your visitor leave and return in a few minutes. The dog will get used and learn to stay calm. In this case, you should reward him with the treats.
3. Keep the dog well exercised
Most dogs bark excessively because of boredom. Dogs need regular and stimulating exercises, at least one hour daily. This will allow the dog to play, run around, and feel they are not restricted.
4. Walk the Dog Regularly
Your dog needs to have interactions and socialize with other dogs, people, and pets. This can be achieved by walking him regularly. Additionally, if you do not walk the dog, it gets bored and anxious, which leads to barking at visitors whenever they come to your home.
5. Master the Quiet Command
This involves training your dog to stop barking when they are prompted. You can use a prompt word such as “quiet’’ or “stop’’. Repeat the commands until the dog becomes familiar with these words. When your visitors come, and the dog starts barking, you can prompt him to be quiet, and he will stop. This method works well when combined with treats.
Consistency, patience, and persistence are key in training your dog to stop barking at your visitors. If you follow the above exercises every time you have visitors, the dog will soon learn that visitors are not a threat, and if he barks, he will be excluded and miss on the treats and praises.
