Help- need to train clingy dog to settle in another room or stop barking!

[Doodledangle]

I work from home full time and just been offered a new job that involves a lot more online meetings both internal and external. My DDog is fab and now age 3 does sleep for hours so I can work but is very reactive to outside noice and will bark at the postman/neighbours etc.

I can’t be in a meeting with the dog barking and the only way to guarantee it. Is putting him in the kitchen. He’s a complete Velcro dog and will follow me around the house although occasionally will take himself off to nap. Any ideas how I can crack this (or ways to stop the barking?)

We have similar issues and not managed to crack it - DDog now goes to a dog sitter the 3 days I’m in the office and dh is wfh. On the days we cant get the sitter or if I need to go in an extra /different day, we have to keep the curtains in the front room shut so dog can’t see anyone outside to lose her shit over.

Have you any kong (or similar) toys you can fill with food to give him?

Yes, if I’m going into a meeting, I’ll have a Kong & lick plate at the ready but new job is 2-3 meetings most days (vs 2-3 a week currently) so I can’t keep doing that.
Maybe a dog sitter is the answer or at least a morning walker to cover a few hours and wear him out. I don’t normally walk him until lunchtime as morning he’s happy snoozing except for aforementioned barking! I would like to try and train him to settle elsewhere so if anyone has cracked it, please share. ETA he’s only 2.5 so maybe I’m being unrealistic about how much he will stay settled and asleep during the day.

Can you just walk him before work? and then maybe do some training with him on your lunch break instead of a walk to tire his brain out?

I am contemplating getting some opaque film for my windows because my gsd will bark at any thing but he's a guardd og so what do I expect🤷🏻‍♀️ it doesn't help where he's barking at noise as opposed to what he can see, but i'm hoping it will reduce the amount at least.

yeah it's noise for mine too @21ZIGGY . I have the radio on when I'm not in meetings so general background is mainly ignored and it's only the odd doorbell ring he'll react to but I can't have the radio on in meetings. I wonder if headphones makes dog barking less intrusive? Presumably people in a meeting can still hear it or would that be a good option until I come up with a solution?

Actually, I've been fussing over my dog barking, sometimes on teams calls and the people on the call said they can't hear him so it's probably worth checking with someone

I’d just put him in the kitchen with a stuffed frozen bone when you know you’re on calls (just use some of his own food allowance)

I was going to say this. I’ve got a decent Bluetooth headset that drowns out a lot of background noise. Also, depending on the meeting I just pop on mute when mine starts barking. Understand that won’t work for every meeting though and especially not if you’re running it/presenting

Blimey what type of dog is he that you don't need to walk him until lunchtime?!

We have three dogs and I absolutely couldn't work successfully (or peacefully) at home if I hadn't taken them out and given them a good walk first thing in the morning. It just tires them out and means that even if there are distractions - postman etc - they are nowhere near as barky or bothered as they would be if they'd not been walked.

If you give him distraction treats after barking, you are rewarding him for defending you from the 'invaders' (who are walking peacefully by.)

Yy to a good morning walk, but also to train him, at weekends, when you are not busy, and preferably when you have a couple of days off, to reinforce it during the week too. If he starts barking, use a firm "Stop it," in a growly voice to him, placing yourself between him and the window/door. Reinforce it with a clear hand signal - a palm towards him. Show him by putting yourself in the way, that you don't need him to defend you. You are in charge here. And praise/reward him with a small treat, or affection, when he stops barking and sits for you. Be consistent, and lower his anxiety levels.

If he barks when someone comes to the door train him to go to a particular place, like his bed, and again reward him for being there/being calm.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the advice. He's a poodle and young and lively but we're not really a morning family and he's adapted to that now and barely moves before midday!

@Justmadesourkraut he knows and obeys the 'place' command when we go to the door but agree I just need to put the time in and be consistent with some training on this issue. He's very good at everything else we've done with him and quick to catch on so it's definitely and us not him thing! Will try your suggestion;