How I Trained My Dog Not to Bark when Someone Knocks

Do you hate it when you dog goes ballistic when a stranger comes to the door? I have hated to go somewhere that the dog was aggressive. I never knew if I was going to get jumped on or bitten. I love dogs, and I didn't want my dog to make people feel uncomfortable when they came to my home. Of course, if you have a dog, it may be happy to see someone new and want to greet that person, or it may feel it has to protect and bark at you like you are an intruder. I am an avid watcher of the show Dog Whisperer, and I've learned a lot from watching the show. I've put some of the techniques into practice in my own home, with my own dog.

My Chihuahua, Ivan, is a naturally bouncy energetic little dog. For a long time he ran the house, and everyone in it. He was the pack leader. It he wanted to be petted he jumped up on me and demanded that I pay attention to him. He wasn't mean or aggressive in a threatening way to me at all; however he wouldn't let me do what I needed to do. When I was trying to write an article, or at the computer for another purpose, he was demanding I pick him up and sit him in my lap while I write. It wouldn't be so bad, if that was all he did; however, once in my lap, he nudges at my hands with his nose, so that I cannot even type on the keyboard.

If you have a dog that is exhibiting annoying behavior, such as what I just mentioned above, the best thing you can do to break the dog from demanding attention from you when you are busy, is to take your place back as pack leader. When my little Ivan tapped my leg with his paw, signaling to me he wanted up into my lap, I ignored him. I didn't even look his way. When he tapped me a little harder and gave me a little vocal yip, I continued to type. When he didn't get the message, and became more insistent that I take him, I made a harsh noise, like "Annnnnt" and pushed him down. I saw him in the corner of my eye just sitting there. His feelings weren't hurt at all. He then moved to lay down between my feet while I continued to work without anymore interruptions from him.