Reactive puppy barking at door AND guests

[Cait73]

My puppy had a fright when she was 3 months old as a result every time someone knocks at the door she goes mad barking jumping going round in circles, if I pick her up (to open the door) she gets worse I have nearly dropped her

IF people visit (which is rare) she stands on the back of the sofa barking

NON STOP!

I've had visitors just sit throwing treats at her not making eye contact, takes a good 20-30 mins to calm her down and she'll bark again if they dare move

I was hoping she'd grow out of it but shes nearly 6 months old now and it's a real problem

When I take her out shes so people reactive I have to have her on a yellow lead so people don't try touching her, she is getting better but we've got a long way to go with that too

She's grown in confidence around traffic and noise and she's never had any problems with other dogs

Any ideas on the door/home situation please? Lots of ideas on the internet I don't really know what to try first, photo is of killer puppy lol

Footnote she's never actually attacked and certainly never bitten anyone

I have a very reactive mini Dachshund, I’ve found giving her lickimat when visitors arrive can work, or her trainer has recommended playing with her with her high value toy when visitors enter. In her case this is a tug toy. We tried the tug toy the last time a stranger come into house (sister in laws sister who she has never met) and she was over getting strokes from her within 10 minutes after playing with me with tug toy while visitor just sat on sofa within a foot of her.

@Westegg I can't play with her and get the door, tried lickymat but door is more interesting lol

Can people enter via the back to break the cycle?

@Santaischeckinglists she would still go mental

We have a hyper-reactive rescue. She is told to go on her bed, and ONLY when on her bed and quiet will I open the door (sorry delivery people!)

@Ariela that sounds ideal so I just need to train her to get onto her bed?

Door goes and there's much excitement usually from my 2 year old (human) he needs to go to his bed too!!

YouTube videos of dog door bell desensitisation

Start with volume low and work over time increasing it

Until dog no longer reacts

Get two of you or recording of door bell.
Play door bell sound and give treat
Play door bell sound and put treat on the dogs bed
Do this a lot and enough times your dog will choose to go to their bed instead of run to the door.

It takes time and consistency but will work. Depends how much effort you want to put into it.

Also best not to get guests to give treats as this can build up conflict in the dog eg they want the treats but do not want to go near the visitors.

Best for you to scatter treats near you when guests enter - or if you must get guests to throw treats away from them so the dog can move away from the quests to get the treat and if the dog chooses can move back to the guest BUT this method can cause dogs to get over threshold.

So way better for you to scatter treats so the place to be when guests appear is calm by your feet.

Out and about avoid people coming close to your dog for a good few months, let her relax and watch from a distance not reacting. If she is reacting go further away.Do not be tempted to make her interact with people this will make the situation worse.

A lot of desensitisation. If she won’t take treats / lickmat she is already overwhelmed with the situation and you need to reign back. I’d suggest working with a vet approved behaviourist for best results.

@HollyRoo I got a trainer in who suggested this, and demonstrated it quite effectively within 10 minutes of her arriving my dog was going to her for treats

This is exactly the problem though everyone says something different

@HollyRoo I've not let anyone near her for a good while, we're at the stage she'll take a treat from a stranger some people are brilliant they've got time to sit and hold their bags out because Peggy really takes her time, she's made massive progress just the door thing's a real issue

[quote Cait73]@HollyRoo I've not let anyone near her for a good while, we're at the stage she'll take a treat from a stranger some people are brilliant they've got time to sit and hold their bags out because Peggy really takes her time, she's made massive progress just the door thing's a real issue [/quote]
HANDS out not bags out!!!

tug-e-nuff.co.uk/products/bright-fauxtastic

These are the tug toys I use really long so you can hold it in your hand and reaches your feet

@SmallPrawnEnergy

A lot of desensitisation. If she won’t take treats / lickmat she is already overwhelmed with the situation and you need to reign back. I’d suggest working with a vet approved behaviourist for best results.

Yes she's overwhelmed thank you, we're at puppy training with a brilliant trainer who has offered to do home work with us at the end of the course (2 weeks time)

I’d do the opposite, train calm so when she’s settled praise/treat reward nothing, you could scatter Feed if the door goes. Have stuffed kongs for visitors arriving, something really tasty.

Boundary train - works wonders for my dog he knows his place and is secure - absolute dogs does courses expensive but work as it’s fun. We have a raised bed and a crate both are his space he’ll go to if he wants time on his own or kids are being loud etc

I use film on the windows so he can’t see out
If your dog practises a behaviour regularly it becomes habit so you don’t want them to do it, mine no longer is interested in the window as he can’t see & doesn’t bark at the door as doors are closed it’s none of his business
He’s just over a year so work in progress. You’ll get there.

@Iamkmackered1979

I’d do the opposite, train calm so when she’s settled praise/treat reward nothing, you could scatter Feed if the door goes. Have stuffed kongs for visitors arriving, something really tasty.

Boundary train - works wonders for my dog he knows his place and is secure - absolute dogs does courses expensive but work as it’s fun. We have a raised bed and a crate both are his space he’ll go to if he wants time on his own or kids are being loud etc

I use film on the windows so he can’t see out
If your dog practises a behaviour regularly it becomes habit so you don’t want them to do it, mine no longer is interested in the window as he can’t see & doesn’t bark at the door as doors are closed it’s none of his business
He’s just over a year so work in progress. You’ll get there.

:) Absolute Dog fan^^

Ask 100 dog trainers get 100 different answers especially if they can not see the situation in rl.

It is old advice to encourage visitors to give treats to reactive dogs. Think about it - if you are terrified of someone would them giving you a treat work?

@HollyRoo the trainer in question came to my home

Water pistol or spray. Pebbles in a plastic bottle. Anything to break the fixation and distract. A firm No! at the same time. Repeat until just the No works.

[quote Cait73]@HollyRoo the trainer in question came to my home [/quote]
All I would question is if the trainers advice is working fab, carry on doing it - but then i guess you would not be on here asking for advice about the same issue if it were working.....

@HollyRoo I'm not made of money, the trainer came once (£40) for something else noticed puppy was reactive, I'm on my second lot of puppy classes (£105/session) you're being smug not helpful so why bother commenting?

@mandajmo

Water pistol or spray. Pebbles in a plastic bottle. Anything to break the fixation and distract. A firm No! at the same time. Repeat until just the No works.

Someone else suggested plastic water bottle thanks, I'll give it a go

[quote Cait73]@HollyRoo I'm not made of money, the trainer came once (£40) for something else noticed puppy was reactive, I'm on my second lot of puppy classes (£105/session) you're being smug not helpful so why bother commenting?[/quote]
To be honest (and fair to the trainer) we've been focusing on increasing confidence so I can walk the dog, which we have now achieved - while she was here she couldn't help but notice how frightened the puppy is of people so we touched on it and agreed to revisit if I was still having problems once we'd completed the basic puppy training course

Im not being smug at all. You asked for advice I gave my opinion (which you are totally at liberty to ignore, does bother me at all) a long with others and you have decided none of the advice will work for you.

Interestingly the only advice you have picked up on being a good idea is adverisve and absolutely the wrong thing to do with a fearful dog.