A pet charity has shared a video on TikTok revealing how to get your dog to stop barking when someone knocks on the door – and it’s very simple and effective
Fed up with your dog’s incessant barking every time someone knocks on the door? Fear not, pet parents! A pet charity has come to the rescue with top tips on how to curb your canine’s noisy greetings.
Many dogs can’t help but bark and dash to the door at the sound of a knock, turning the simple act of welcoming guests into a bit of an ordeal. So to combat the issue, Woodgreen Pets Charity has dropped a handy TikTok video offering three nifty tricks to silence your barker at the door.
These are hands-on methods to prevent your furry friend from responding to door knocks. In the video, Ciara, a dog advisor for the charity gives three handy hints.
First off, break the habit. The charity recommends using a baby gate or keeping your pooch on a lead to prevent them from “rushing up to people when they arrive.” This tactic limits their access to the entrance, holding them at bay.
Next, teach your dog what you want them to do. Woodgreen’s advice is to practice knocking and then instruct your dog to head to their bed, rewarding them with a treat for compliance.
Ciara suggests: “Then give them extra treats if they stay there patiently whilst you open the door.” This strategy trains your dog to stay relaxed at the sound of a knock, letting them know good behaviour equals tasty rewards.
Lastly, make the door boring. The charity suggests: “Practice playing doorbell and door knocking sounds at a low volume whilst your dog’s eating their meals. This will make it less of a trigger and you can gradually raise the volume over time, as long as your dog doesn’t react.”
VCA Animal Hospitals, who own vets across the USA and Canada, has also pointed out that dogs are “genetically predisposed to territorial behaviour.” explaining that their barking at the door is a manifestation of this instinct.
They said: “Barking at the door reflects this tendency. Territorial behavior keeps potentially harmful intruders from getting too close to a dog’s valuable safe space.”
They note that such behaviour can be self-reinforcing, especially for timid dogs. “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.”
The hospital also observes that sociable dogs often bark at the door in anticipation of guests, possibly thinking they’re speeding up their arrival. VCA Animal Hospitals added: “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.”
They explain there can be downsides to excited barking, warning: “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.”
