
All of these techniques involve desensitizing a dog to the stranger and changing their emotional response in their presence. There are several techniques a qualified behavior consultant may be able to help you with resolving leash reactivity. So, what can we do with a leash reactive dog? Fluffy hopes that by barking, lunging and growling, the person will go away (and chances are, they will!) The leash restricts a dog’s flight instinct and only provides one option, fight. You’ll notice a different type of bark for excited greeters and dogs who are genuinely frightened.Ī dog who is fearful goes into fight or flight mode. This could be because they are frustrated and want to greet people or because they are scared of strangers. My Dog Barks at Strangers When We Are Out for a Walkīarking at strangers when out for a walk is a form of “stranger danger!” or a sign of frustration.ĭogs are often more reactive (lunging, barking, growling) when they are restricted by a leash. But, having a toy in her mouth meant that she wasn’t able to bark. She would often bark at house guests when they first arrived out of sheer excitement. So, recruit your friends, neighbors, the mail carrier, the kids from down the street, and strangers walking by, to help you make it a normal part of life.Īnother alternative that often works well, and worked for my old dog, Monday, was having her pick up a toy when someone knocks on the door. Practice - A big problem with barking at house guests is (for me, anyway) hardly having any! It’s hard to make it a routine and less exciting and/or scary if it only happens every now and then.This is particularly useful for dogs who are fearful.

You can even use the doorbell as the cue for him to go to his mat. It will give your pup a clear direction, predictability, and he will know exactly what to expect: Go to mat - get treats - person comes in - stay calm – more treats. I like to teach “ go to your mat” for this situation.
#Quit all that barking little bitch and come bite me how to#
In these situations, we want to address the root cause of their fear so that they can learn how to relax and feel better.


The trick is, figuring out when the barking is acceptable and when it requires attention.īarking becomes a problem (for us) when it becomes excessive, it’s bothering the neighbors, or it’s disrupting our own peace and quiet time.īarking can also be a problem (for our dogs) if they are barking because they are afraid or anxious. He may hear a bump in the night and bark to alert you or see the poodle across the street through the living room window. It is normal for a doggo to bark every now and then. In fact, humans have selectively bred many breeds specifically for their ability to bark!īut in modern society (and particularly urban settings), barking can become a nuisance behavior that many people want to “fix.” Unfortunately, few know how to approach it.īut all is not lost! There is hope for a quieter future.īelow, we discuss some of the ways to problem solve your pupper’s barking. Barking is a totally normal way for dogs to communicate.
