How to Get Your Dog to Respect the Doorbell: Part 1.5

Click here to read part one.

The hustle and bustle of the week in preparation for our yearly Halloween party left little time to shoot, edit and record audio for my part two video. However, I didn't want to leave any of you hanging who have been diligently practicing part one and who are ready to move on. (). So if you are one of those people who have been working hard on part one and who have or are close to mastering the cue "go to your place" when knocking on the door, then you are ready to add people.  I plan on shooting a video of working with Teri on this tonight as trick or treaters come to the door, so the full part two should be up sometime this week.  In the meantime, here are some steps to help get you through tonight. 

Step 1: Warm Up: Since we already know what's coming, we can help set our dog up for success by practicing the "go to your place" exercise from part one before it gets dark tonight and before any trick or treaters have come to the door. This will help get your dog in the training zone and bring he or she up to speed. As night approaches, I plan to put Teri on a leash for easier control if she should leave her place at any point while trick or treaters are present. 

Step 2: Rapid-Fire Treating: It will really be a lot easier if two people work on this together; one answering the door and one working with the dog.  When someone knocks or rings the bell ask your dog to go to his or her place as practiced before. Once your dog gets there click and treat as usual. Here is the difference: Adding real strangers ups the distraction level immensly. Unfamiliar voices, smells and bulky costumes may cause your dog to leave his or her place. This is where the leash can be of great assistance. 

To help curb this unwanted behavior you first want to make sure you have very high-value treats such as real meat or cheese. Person one will go to answer the door. As person one approaches the door, your pup should already be in his or her place.  As you (person two) watch person one walk toward the door, you want to start clicking and treating in rapid succession as your dogs stays in his or her place.  You will continue rapid-fire treating throughout the entire interaction at the door.  The idea is to click and treat quickly enough to where your dog misses the opportunity to bark or leave his or her spot. Continue this process each time, gradually reducing the amount of times you click and treat.  

If adding people to the door is too much for your dog just yet, you can try moving the "place" (the pet bed, towel, etc.) to a different location farther from the door or in a different room entirely. While keeping your dog on leash, lure your dog to the place and click and treat as described in part on and the steps above.  Removing your dog completely from the situation if needed is better than having your dog act wildly at the door, as that behavior is reinforcing in and of itself (someone comes to the door, your dog acts crazy, person leaves. To your dog, it appears their behavior is the reason why the person is leaving thus reinforcing the behavior).

Instead you want to make their "place" and paying attention to you more exciting and reinforcing than what is happening at the door.  So use really good treats and lots of positive energy and verbal praise when he or she does the right thing.

I apologize for not having a visual for this, but check back very soon as I will be filiming one tonight!  Good luck with training everyone and have a happy and safe Halloween!

Please do not hesitate to email me or contact me via Facebook if you have any questions!

**For pet training services, free consultations, questions, additional comments, or more pictures, you may contact me via Facebook at facebook.com/melsmenagerie or via email at melsmenagerie@gmail.com.