How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking at Visitors

Hello Barbara, I recommend starting with gently building pup's respect for you through obedience and the working method from the article I have linked below. https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-doberman-to-listen-to-you I would also pay attention to pup's overall body language and behavior. Do they seem anxious or like they are in pain or feeling poorly. If so, I would check with your vet since the behavior is recent. If pup is anxious, working on regular obedience training, trick training, things like structured heeling, agility obstacles with treats, and keeping consistent boundaries and routines can all help pup feel more secure. Be careful to act calm and confident around pup, and not angry or sorry for pup - the calmness and confidence from you can help pup also feel more calm and confident. Consistent rules and routes can help pup adjust to the new situation. If pup is nervous about the new roommates, check out the section on shy dogs and humans from the article below. https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-socialize-a-shy-dog/ Be sure no one is using any disciplining methods that involve hitting with hands or angrily yelling at pup, as that can cause an aggressive response to touch and defensiveness too. Finally, you may need to temporarily get pup used to wearing a basket muzzle using treats, and keep a basket muzzle and a drag leash on pup while you are home during the day to supervise. When pup refuses to obey a command, you can then calmly enforce it without being bitten to stay consistent with the rules. Also, reward pup for obedience, calm, good responses, and behavior you want to see too. Choose a basket muzzle so that pup can eat treats through the muzzle's holes and be more comfortable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Minnie, There are a number of things that could be going on and need to be addressed. I recommend hiring a professional trainer who specializes in aggression and comes well recommended by their previous clients to work with you in person to evaluate pup's aggression and tailor the training to your needs. Check out Thomas from the Canine Educator on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-TFajjG5CMAmUrJG1ONtKQ You may also need to desensitize pup to wearing a basket muzzle to be able to train safely if pup is biting and breaking the skin when they bite. Muzzle introduction video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJTucFnmAbw&list=PLXtcKXk-QWojGYcl1NCg5UA5geEnmpx4a&index=6&t=0s Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello there. It sounds like you have your hands full. I am going to provide you with information on how to correct this behavior. You won’t be able to solve your dog’s overprotective behavior in one day. In the meantime, you don’t want to put your life on hold. You can still invite guests into your home as long as you prioritize managing your dog’s behavior. You’ll need a short-term strategy to start showing your overprotective dog what behavior is unacceptable while also keeping your guests safe. There are a few ways to do this. Leash: Keeping your dog on a leash while friends are visiting gives you control over your dog’s actions. Leash him up before the doorbell rings and keep him close as you greet your guests. During the visit, you can let the leash drag and only use it if you have to. Muzzle: If you feel his behavior warrants the use of a muzzle for the time being while you work on solving this problem, then it may be a wise choice. Separate Room: Your dog won’t get better without practice, but sometimes you have to weigh the risks versus rewards. If your overprotective dog is in the beginning stages of training, keeping him separated from guests might be best. You don’t want to put a friend’s safety at risk or needlessly stress out your dog. As long as you keep working toward stopping the behavior, separating an overprotective dog from company is a temporary management solution. Start Obedience Training Obedience training is a must for every dog, and it’s especially important for overprotective dogs. Working with your dog on things like “sit-stay,” “down-stay,” and “heel,” will help build his impulse control. He’ll start seeing you as a capable leader and will turn to you for guidance. A mistake many pup parents make is stopping obedience training once their dog masters the basics skills. Being well-trained is about more than knowing how to sit when a person holds a treat in front of their face. It’s a lifetime lesson, and even senior dogs need regular training. Commit to training your dog several times a day for short periods of time. Make Your Dog Work for Affection You can’t help but smother your dog with love every time he’s within petting distance, but that isn’t always what’s best for him. He will start to feel entitled to your attention, and that’s part of the problem. To remedy this, initiate a “work for it” program that allows you to show your dog affection as long as he earns your attention in appropriate ways. Make him sit, stay calm, and do whatever else you ask before doling out whatever it is he wants. If he’s excited for dinner, make him sit and leave it before digging in. If he wants in your lap, ask him to do a trick first. Never give your dog attention if he rudely nudges your hand or barks in your face. He needs to know polite behavior, and polite behavior only, is how he gets what he wants. You ignore everything else. Involve Other People in the Dog’s Life Most overprotective dogs choose to guard only the person they feel closest to. It’s usually the same person who fills their food bowls, takes them on walks, and handles training. They become obsessively attached, and a strong bond gradually mutates into overprotective behavior. Putting some space between you and your dog will help him learn to trust other people. Enlist the entire family’s help and take a step back in your role as primary caregiver. Have someone else feed the dog a few times a week, and encourage other people to engage her in playtime. This will help him be more comfortable with different people. Socialize Socialization is best done during the puppy stages, but even adult and senior dogs benefit from new experiences. Exposing your overprotective dog to new places, experiences, and people, will help him learn that not everyone is out to hurt you. Make sure each new experience is positive, and encourage your dog without forcing him to interact. If your dog is afraid, you don’t want to make things worse. Take socialization at the pace he’s comfortable with. If he seems overwhelmed, back up and try something a little smaller. These are some general ideas and they can be modified to fit your dynamic. These behaviors do take time, I am talking months, to correct. And sometimes the behaviors get worse before they get better. So just push through that time if that starts to happen. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you for writing in!

Hello Jeremy, If pup is not aggressive but simply reactive toward people, I suggest working on desensitizing pup to people and teaching a quiet response. Check out the video linked below and the video channel linked below that for further resources. Door barking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpzvqN9JNUA Barking series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAA4pob0Wl0W2agO7frSjia1hG85IyA6a Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, German Shepherds can sometimes have an innate protective personality and it's quite likely that is where the barking comes from. But also remember, most dogs love to bark and vocalize so it is not unusual. The Verbal Command Method here: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-german-shepherd-to-not-bark and the Quiet Method here are essentially the same idea: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bark. The Desensitize Method in the Shih Tzu guide is effective as well. Work on both of those with Koda as techniques to deal with the barking. Practice 10-20 minutes daily and always end on a positive note. Give lots of verbal praise as well. Good luck training!