In fact, your dog may be so motivated to bark at the perceived threat that he may ignore your shouts to stop barking or any scolding you might give him. Even if you use harsh punishment to stop your dog from barking, it may escalate to the point that he might try to control his territory other actions, such as biting someone. Some dogs also bark at strangers to alert their owners to a potential threat. Alarm barking is triggered by sights and sounds. Dogs who alarm bark may react to strangers even when they are not in their home or yards. Your dog may bark when he sees strangers in the park, on the street, or in an unfamiliar place.

We bred dogs to bark, so do not get upset if your dog barks at sudden sounds like car doors slamming and loud noise in the street. However, dogs who bark at strangers require training to ensure they do not become too aggressive towards others.

For a more permanent option, place a removable plastic film or spray a glass coating on the windows so its harder for your dog to see people outside. Doing this will limit your dog’s ability to see people so he is less motivated to defend his territory and bark.

The fence will also obscure your dog’s view of the street when he is inside, so he won’t be able to spot strangers and bark at them.

If he starts barking again after he is seated, shake the set of keys again and repeat the sequence. Avoid encouraging your dog to bark at people at the door by saying “Who’s there?” to your dog and then walking to the door. This will cause your dog to be on guard and will likely lead to alert barking.

Practice this technique when a stranger comes to the door, for example, a delivery man. Let your dog bark three to four times. Then, stand over him and say “quiet”. Go to your dog and gently hold his muzzle closed with your hand. Then, say “quiet” again. Release your dog’s muzzle and step back from him. Then, call him away from the door or the window by saying his name and “here”. Command your dog to sit and then reward him with a treat. If he remains seated and quiet, give him several more treats for the next several minutes until the stranger is gone. If your dog starts barking once he sits down, repeat the sequence again and do not reward him until he sits and remains quiet.

Allow your dog to bark three to four times. Then, approach him and say “quiet”. Encourage his silence by feeding him pea-sized treats like cooked chicken, hot dogs, or pieces of cheese. Repeat this sequence several times over a period of several days until your dog seems to understand what “quiet” means. Your dog should stop barking once you say “quiet”. After several days of training, extend the time between giving the cue “quiet” and giving your dog his reward. Say “quiet” and wait two seconds before feeding your dog his treats. Gradually increase the wait time to five seconds, then 10 seconds, then 20 seconds. Work up to 30 seconds of wait time before rewarding your pup.

Hold the treat in front of his nose so he can see the treat. Instruct him to nibble the treat as he is walking past a person who might cause him to bark. You can also command your dog to sit and eat the treat as people pass by him. Always praise him and reward him again if he does not bark as people pass by.

If your dog isn’t comfortable riding in a crate, you can train your dog to wear a head halter in the car. A head halter can have a calming effect on your dog. You can also put a head halter on your dog during walks or around the house if he tends to bark. But you should avoid depending solely on a head halter to stop your dog’s barking. A more permanent solution to the problem is training your dog not to bark at strangers.

A listing of certified dog trainers can be found here.