How to Train Your Small Dog to Not Bark When Someone Is at the Door

Hello, Pulling - The Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Barking - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY7JrteQBOQ&list=PLAA4pob0Wl0W2agO7frSjia1hG85IyA6a&index=3&t=28s Barking - Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Jumping: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-australian-shepherds-to-not-jump What type of anti-social behavior is pup doing? If pup is fearful, check out this article and work on a lot of training geared toward socialization. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-socialize-a-shy-dog/ Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Nina, First, I would stop kissing and hugging her. She likely hasn't been socialized with that type of touch before so she is reacting defensively. You don't want her to be biting certainly, but you need to desensitize her to those things gradually instead of simply doing them despite her protests. To work on getting pup used to touch and handling use pup's daily meal kibble to do this. Gently touch an area of pup's body while feeding a piece of food. Touch an ear and give a treat. Touch a paw and give a treat. Hold their collar and give a treat. Touch their tail gently and give a treat. Touch their belly, their other paws, their chest, shoulder, muzzle and every other area very gently and give a treat each time. Keep these times calm and fun for pup. Once pup is used to all of those touches and happy about having you in her space again, then you can instead the touch to work up to closer contact gradually. I would do this very carefully, with pup wearing a basket muzzle that's been introduced ahead of time, and only giving as much touch as pup indicates they are ready for with how relaxed their body language appears, then working up to more touch very gradually with the treats, to help pup learn to love touch. Muzzle training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw Some dogs have stronger personal space boundaries than others. Some dogs may never love that amount of personal space invasion. I would still desensitize pup to the touch and contact to help pup not feel as stressed about it for times when pup has to be restrained for exams or kids run up to pup and enter their space unexpectedly, but you may also need to adjust the way you interact with pup on a daily basis long term, to bond with pup in ways pup enjoys more. Teaching pup commands and tricks, playing games or canine sports, going on walks and hikes together, teaching pup to touch you instead of you entering their space - like having pup learn to set their chin on you, and teaching pup to enjoy short sessions with more contact but then be able to go back to their own space right after, and to have pup come over to you for these sessions instead of you moving into their space at any point in the day when they are expecting it and aren't ready for it. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Mary, I would teach pup the Quiet command. Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Check out this video on desensitizing to guests and the door. A similar process, with your particular sounds and experiences outside, can be done with your pup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Ximena, I would desensitize pup to guests arriving and teach pup Place, having pup go to Place when they need help controlling their responses. Desensitizing to the door and guests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA I would work up to pup doing a 1 hour place command, gradually adding distractions like toys and food being dropped, family entering and exiting the front door, and you dancing around silly, start with the basics of Place and gradually make it harder as she improves, consistently returning her to place when she breaks command due to distraction, and keeping sessions frequent but short. You want to work up to pup handling all kinds of silly things when guests aren't there, including the front door opening, then recruit dog friendly friends who are willing to practicing entering and leaving your home over and over again to work up to pup being able to handle that distraction also. Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Desensitize and Quiet methods - you may also find these methods helpful too. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Courtney, Check out the Quiet method from the article I have linked below for the door barking: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark Also, check out this video on barking at the door and counter conditioning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA First, work on the Leave It command from the article linked below for surfing that happens when you are present. Leave It method- the first part of that method that involves food. Gradually work up to pup leaving harder foods alone - like kibble - treats - chicken - hotdogs - until pup can leave food on the floor alone when told that command while you are there to enforce it and prevent pup from grabbing it. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite For surfing that is happening while you are out of the room, I recommend creating an aversion to jumping on the counter itself. There are a few ways to do this. You can place something like a scat mat on the counter and put a food temptation further back on the counter just out of reach - when pup jumps up the mat gives a static shock - nothing harsh but its uncomfortable and surprising. You can also set up Snap Traps covered lightly with unfolded napkins. When pup touches them on the edge of the counter, they will jump up and make a snapping sound - startling pup. These are designed for this type of purpose so won't actually close on pup like real mouse traps would - don't use real mouse traps because of the risk of injury. You can also stack metal pot lids and pans precariously on the counter. Tie a strong string like twine through all of them and back tie the whole contraption to something secure so that when they fall they can't fall all the way off the counter, then tie another string to the lip or pan that's supporting the precarious set up and tie the other end of that string to a safe food booby trap, like a whole bagel sitting on the counter. The idea is that when pup jumps up and grabs the food, they will pull the objects over and create a loud crashing noise that will surprise them. Because of the back tie string the objects should not fall on pup though. With all of these setups, you will need to set up a camera to spy on pup from the other room and be ready to run in and remove any food left on the counter or floor, so that pup doesn't return to the scene of the crime once things are calm and eat the food anyway - otherwise they may decide that its still worth it to jump up. You will need to practice this setup often with pup in different parts of the counter and with different foods. Don't use any food that could harm pup if they were to eat it - like chicken bones, grapes, chocolate, xylitol, nuts, garlic, or onion. When not practicing the trap, keep counters clean and pup confined away from the area or tethered to you with a hands free leash until pup has thoroughly learned the lesson - jumping up and not being surprised and potentially grabbing food, will negate your training efforts - you want pup to think that the counter is always suspicious now so they give up on jumping up. For the trash can raiding, you can booby trap your trash can with one of those magnetic door alarms that goes off when a toddler opens a door to go outside, set it up so that it goes off when the lid to the trashcan is opened, moving it away from the magnet on the inside of the trash can to make it go off. If your trashcan doesn't have a lid, you absolutely need a new trashcan unless your trashcan can be put away somewhere where pup can't access, like under the sink or in a pantry with the door closed. A final option is to crate train pup and crate pup while you are away. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden