How to stop dog barking uncontrollably when we have visitors

[paddy29]

Just wondered if anyone had any tips to stop my dog going crazy when we have visitors or a knock at the door?

It doesn't last long maybe 15-20 seconds but we have our first baby due soon and will likely be having more visitors and I don't imagine the baby will l like getting woke up.

You'd be surprised how babies often sleep through noises they've already go accustomed to in the womb.

I had the same worry about neighour's dog but both babies slept through. Only time they were disturbed was around the age of 2 years old.

I have trained dogs but it probably depends a bit on the breed and how yappy or stubborn trainable they are!

My suggestions are a) aversion therapy, where you record your doorbell and play it so it is so normal they don't notice (used to help dogs overcome firework noise fear), and b) reward when they are quiet. A quick google search explains it better:

Using the sound of the doorbell is the right thing, but you want to associate it with something calm and pleasant for your dog. If your dogs are already trained to sit calmly before receiving treats from you, you’re halfway there.
What you need to do is get them to sit calmly for a treat first, then ring the doorbell. If they do not react to it, they get the treat. If they do react, redirect them with the smell of the treat (but don’t give it to them yet), get them to sit calmly and wait, then repeat the process.
In this way, you will teach them that “doorbell = treat,” but only if they sit calmly. You’ll also want everyone in the house to have treats on them at first, so that when the doorbell rings at random they can reward the dogs that comply right away.

Read more: www.cesarsway.com/dogbehavior/dogbarking/Ask-Cesar-Doorbell-Barkers#ixzz34Gq4ECvz