Teaching Your Dog Not to Bark at Strangers

There is more annoying than a dog barking at every stranger they see. Even though they might just be trying to protect us, it can be a little embarrassing when our dogs start barking at everyone they see.

Dogs bark at strangers for various reasons, including territoriality, excitement, fear, or simply feeling uneasy in the presence of strangers. We can certainly teach our dog through obedience training, but additional methods are listed below.

Why Do Dogs Bark at Strangers?

Before we can deal with how to stop your dog from barking, let’s find out why they start barking in the first place. 

Lack of Human Socialization

Our dogs occasionally bark at strangers since they are not accustomed to their presence. An unsocialized dog tends to bark at strangers, making meeting new people awkward.

Being Territorial 

Occasionally dogs can feel excessively possessive of their home and their humans. Dogs could perceive strangers as a danger to their area and may bark at them. Your dog is probably territorial if they only bark at people approaching their home or approaching you while you’re out for a walk.

Excitement

Our canine companions can become so giddy with enthusiasm at the sight of a new face that they bark at the approach of strangers. Your dog is likely merely thrilled if they are barking at strangers while wiggling its tail and butt.

Fear

Fear of the unknown, similar to a lack of socialization, can cause our dogs to snarl and howl at any unexpected people. If your dog is wary of other animals and people, you can anticipate him to bark at any visitors approaching you or your house.

How Can You Stop Your Dog from Barking at Strangers?

It is critical to teach the dog that barking at and jumping on strangers will not result in attention. You can practice this method by having a friend pose as a stranger in your home or in a location where your dog has difficulty. When the dog is barking and jumping, ensure the stranger knows to avoid eye contact and attention. When the dog calms down and stops misbehaving, the stranger can reward them with a treat. When your dog becomes more accustomed to the process and begins to behave well around strangers, increase the reward each time they greet a stranger respectfully.

If the dog struggles to understand that it cannot bark at strangers, show them that it will not be rewarded with interaction if they continue to bark. You can accomplish this by turning around and walking in the opposite direction as the approaching stranger. This shows that they will not be able to participate if they continue to bark. After your dog has successfully stopped barking, you can reward them with a treat. Repeat this process until your dog understands that barking does not result in the desired reward.