Ahhh the Dreaded Doorbell!
Does your dog go crazy whenever the doorbell rings? You’re not alone! Why do they get so excited? Most dogs associate the doorbell ringing with the excitement (or in some cases, fear or anxiety) of someone being at the door. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Every time they hear that glorious sound, *poof!* a visitor has arrived! Whether it’s someone coming to actually visit or just the postal carrier dropping off a package, it sends a flood of emotions and learned responses to the dog.
Did you know that bomb dog breeding facilities have sounds of explosions and gun fire broadcasting through a facility-wide sound system 24-7? With the noise constantly happening, the dogs (and even the newborn pups) learn that the noise is simply a part of daily life. That way, when they get out into the field, the sound doesn’t startle them or distract them from their job.
In the same way, we could desensitize our family dogs to the doorbell. If the noise happened constantly with no resulting visitor, the dog would learn that noise is just another of the many noises part of their daily lives. They wouldn’t associate that trigger with a visitor, and thus, they wouldn’t go bonkers every time they heard it.
Certainly, it would be far easier to desensitize a new puppy, but it can also be done with a dog who already reacts to the sound. With a new puppy, they haven’t already developed that conditioned response so desensitizing is simply prevention in their case. Ring the bell at random, act as if nothing happened, and reward the pup for calm behavior.
With an adult dog who already sees that noise as a trigger, it requires just a bit more work and can more easily be accomplished with two people (handler and doorbell ringer):
The doorbell ringer should be outside at the doorbell while the handler is inside with the dog and out of sight of the front door. The handler should have a highly valuable reward (possibly one the dog ONLY gets when the doorbell rings so he really wants to work for it!) - a handful of the dog’s favorite treats, a Kong with peanut butter, a favorite toy, etc.
Before the ringer even rings the bell, the handler should start by getting the dog’s attention (with the reward if necessary) and reward the dog for focusing on the handler.
After about 30 seconds of rewarded focus and calm behavior, the ringer should ring the doorbell once. When (if) the dog reacts, the handler should get the dog’s attention again with the reward and give the reward ONLY when the dog is calm and focused on the handler. The ringer will stay outside through the entire process. Be patient, as this may take a good deal of time in the beginning.
When the dog has fully ignored the door and the person at the door, the ringer should ring the bell again. Repeat the above process. Remember to never actually give the reward until the dog is calm and ignoring the door and person at the door.
As with all desensitization, it’s important to remember that time is the best aid. Only practice for short periods (5-10 minutes), but practice multiple times a day (3-5 times) when possible. It won’t get better overnight, but eventually, your dog will be running to you when the doorbell rings, looking for their reward!