Need help with puppy..

[pansydansy]

Our puppy is 7 months old and we have a problem with her barking at strangers. Anyone who knocks on the front door she will not stop barking at. I used my mums groomer today for the first time and the lady came to pick our dog up. From the second the lady stepped in the puppy was barking and would not shut up! It's so embarrassing because even if you tell her to stop she carries on. This is happening a lot lately and I don't know how I handle this. Anyone got any ideas please?

[Doggydoggydoggy]

My thoughts are it could be territorial aggression - what breed is she? At 7 months she is likely coming into adolescence and the adult temperament is starting to come in or she is scared of the person coming in.

Personally, I would first try and work out the reason behind it then I think I would teach her a ‘settle’ command in a designated area and reward her for ignoring the person quietly and staying in her designated place.

[Easterbunnynearlyhere]

Mm puppy indeed....

[PottyPotterer]

It's actually perfectly normal, albeit undesirable, behaviour. The dog's just warning you of potential danger. You just need to train her out of it. First thing you need to do is train her to respond to your chosen command (stop/quiet,shush etc) and reward her the instant she stops. Or you could give her a mat or bed to go to and train her to go there when the door goes, again reward based training will work best but timing is everything.. You could also try keeping treats by the door and asking visitors to give her one so she can see they aren't a threat.

[OverFedStanley]

Do not get visitors to give her a treat ever. If you are frightened of a massive spider and it came towards you giving you chocolate would your fear go away?

She is going through a fear stage very common at this age and really does not need to much made of it.


If she is barking give her more space or remove her to another room - maybe meet visitors outside and you reward her if not barking.

[pansydansy]

Thanks everyone. She's a Yorkshire terrier so quite commonly a happy dog 🙈 she doesn't bark at anyone when we're out and about it's just when strange people are around our house. Thinking about it I do think it's a territory issue. But once she starts there's no stopping her, even if I tell her to stop or take her into another room she just carry's on tapping away.

[pansydansy]

Yappy and yapping that was meant to say