Look at it from their perspective: if the doorbell rings, chances are a stranger will enter. This can mean lots of fun or someone invading your territory. In both cases it is therefore not surprising that a dog barks. “Barking is an emotion”, explains dog behavior expert Arnoud Busscher to Radar† “A dog barks because, for example, he finds something exciting or fun.”
Various symptoms
Many dogs are startled by loud noises. If your dog shows one or more of the following symptoms, there is a good chance that he is afraid of the sound of the bell:
- Ears pulled back
- Tail low or even between his legs
- Polar bears or spin
- Head down or he’ll even turn away
Not all dogs are afraid, sometimes they are very happy when the bell rings. You can tell your dog is excited if he or she:
- Walk straight to the door when the bell rings.
- Wagging tail very quickly.
- Excitedly running back and forth between you and door.
- Pants between barks.
Response
Your dog’s barking is increased by people’s behavior, Busscher says. “When people come in and they immediately respond to the dog, they get the feeling that the visit is for him or her.” This can make a dog busy or cheerful, but also feel threatened. This keeps him barking longer.
unlearn
The solution? Make sure the visitor ignores your dog upon entering. He or she then learns that someone often comes in when the bell rings, but that the person does not pay any attention to him or her. That way you learn to stop barking. This only works if you tell people in advance to ignore your four-legged friend.
In any case don’t do this
What doesn’t work is corrective response. “People often have only one solution for their dog’s behavior, and that is punishment. This may seem logical, but it actually creates more tension and stress in the dog, so that the barking continues.”
Win win situation
If you feel bad about ignoring your dog, you can try to divert the animal’s attention by giving it a treat. A happy, wagging dog is then inhibited in its enthusiasm, while a scared dog feels less threatened. Busscher calls this a ‘win-win situation’. Good luck!
Looking for a new toy for your dog? Make it yourself easily:
Source: Radar