No More Barking: Teach Your Dog to Behave with Strangers
Now that you know why your dog barks at strangers, we can examine how to stop it. Let's discuss how to teach your dog to behave among strangers as it's an obedience skill.
First, teach your dog that barking and jumping on people will not get them attention. Enlist a buddy to pretend as a stranger in your house or where your dog suffers to practice this strategy.
Ignoring Misbehavior
Make sure the visitor understands to ignore the barking and leaping dog. The stranger can treat the dog when they calm down. Increase the incentive for appropriately greeting people as your dog becomes used to the routine.
Showing your dog that they won't be rewarded for barking at strangers will help them comprehend. Turn around and walk away from the stranger.
This shows them that barking prevents engagement. Treat your dog once they stop barking. Repeat until your dog learns that barking does not get them rewards.
Distraction can also prevent your dog from barking at strangers. Distract your dog while they bark. Jingling, snapping, or using your clicker will achieve this.
Distraction Method
After your dog stops barking and pays attention, tell them to sit and be quiet. Treat your dog every time you distract them.
After teaching your dog to be calm and not bark when strangers approach, educate them to sit respectfully. Have a stranger approach you and your dog while you sit.
Treat them if they stay calm and sit on command. Correct them and don't reward till they sit. To follow your dog's pace, this is best done with a stranger who knows your training method.
Like any instruction, learning to behave around strangers takes time. Review the instructions above, and your dog will soon be greeting strangers respectfully!