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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog barking at the door

10 replies

doggybootcamp · 08/02/2025 17:17

Our dog is almost three and has always barked if somebody comes to the door and when we leave (even if only one of us is leaving and the rest of us are at home- once they've left, she returns to her usual calm state immediately.)
The barking seems to have got worse recently and I need to try to stop it.
She's a collie and intelligent but very stubborn/ resistant to training. If we try too much she will retreat, refuse treats and ignore us.
We got as far as training her to go to 'her' space when anyone comes to the door but she still barks there. She doesn't bark at any other time and is super friendly. Luckily we are rural so no neighbours hear!
If anyone has any creative responses please do share, we are happy to spend as much time and energy on this!

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Nannyfannybanny · 08/02/2025 17:22

I sympathise,2 borders, one 9,we managed to stop her barking at people and dogs walking past, then we got a puppy. She went into full guard dog,"don't you walk past our house" mode. I stand in front and block her. The younger one,, doesn't bark at people going past,they both hate the (new) postman. I let them out to greet the one we had for years...he has border collies! Youngest used to bark when we left, doesn't bother now.

Original poster
doggybootcamp · 08/02/2025 17:33

Our old dog never barked, we are not experts in this 😂

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KeenOtter · 08/02/2025 19:29

If she is barking at people at the door pretty easy to sort.

I would get a new door bell.

Sit with her near her bed ring the doorbell and put treats in her bed. Do this a lot before you fit the door bell.

As she gets good at going to her bed with you close by then move further away so she has to go further to get to her bed when the bell rings.

When she is doing this consistently then put the bell on the door and try from there. To prevent her from barking when she gets to her bed drop treats at random intervals. She should be sitting on the bed expecting the treat and not barking. If she does bark decrease the space of time initially before rewarding

It is important that she is rewarded each time she hears the bell in her bed for quite a while.

If she is just randomly barking at the door prevent access to the door at all times.

Arran2024 · 08/02/2025 19:35

My dogs only bark like you describe. They are 6 and 9 and nothing has stopped it. I have tried ignoring, bribing....

Our vet says some dogs are more vocal than others.

It is hard to train dogs not to bark, especially if they see it as part of their job.

Rainbowstripes · 09/02/2025 00:45

Will she bark if in a down? I'd teacher her to go her place (like a dog bed or mat) and lie down. Barking while lying down is physically harder so although not impossible is worth a try. Collies are notorious control freaks (said with love) - I know you said she's difficult to train but finding something that she enjoys doing and a way to reward her that she finds rewarding will help your relationship massively. A good general working relationship makes a lot of problems easier to manage because your dog wants to listen and please you. Something like agility may be good as it's all about relationship or treiball is a herding sport that's a great outlet for collies mental requirements.

Original poster
doggybootcamp · 09/02/2025 08:25

Thanks all.
To be honest, the barking when someone leaves the house is more of an issue than when visitors knock on the door- as soon as we start putting shoes and coats on she starts barking and won't stop until we leave so can go on and on. She does this even if we're all sitting with her bar the one person going out.
She goes to her bed but will sit and bark there until we've left. As soon as we've gone she's totally chilled again.
Her favourite spot is by the window but she doesn't bark at passers by, only people who come on our drive and knock on the door.
I had thought about agility or similar but she has a large plate in her leg from a break when she was very young so I worry about pressure on it but she's also very over excitable around new people and dogs so it takes a while for her to actually listen to me so I don't think we're ready for that yet!

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Nannyfannybanny · 09/02/2025 15:17

We live in a 60s bungalow,big windows, window sill the perfect height for dog paws. The barking on us going out,is only a few seconds. We don't make a big thing about going out. The youngest doesn't bark at people going past, just watches. Their "beds" are in our bedroom,in the day they are sometimes on the sofa, sometimes in the conservatory, the garden if we're out there . Have had collies since I was 13. The last 2 didn't bark, but these 2 have a perfect panoramic window scene. There are lots of little yappy dogs on our walks. That would drive me crazy.

Nannyfannybanny · 09/02/2025 15:19

We put a camera up in the living room to see what they did when we were out for several hours.... absolutely nothing!!! Didn't bark, didn't move!

SmallTownLife · 09/02/2025 15:26

We’ve tried so many things to help with this but one of our dogs still barks when someone comes to the door. We just accept she barks now. No help sorry!

Original poster
doggybootcamp · 09/02/2025 17:01

@Nannyfannybanny ours does exactly the same- I'm sure she'd prefer if we were home but seems absolutely fine when we're out. She just potters about, looks out the window, snoozes and seems pretty chilled.
If we could even reduce the barking when we leave it would be great- it's so loud!

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