Free Tips on How to Stop a Dog from Barking at Strangers

We recently assisted Coco, a 1-year-old Havanese, during this Omaha dog training session. Coco’s guardians asked for our help to educate them on how to stop a dog from barking at strangers. Coco gets scared and barks when people move without her permission.

Knowing that Coco was a fearful dog around strangers, I used some dog behaviorist tricks to help ensure the greeting went well. After an hour of working with her, I was able to pick up Coco without her getting scared or nervous.

Coco skipped puppy classes so I made arrangements for her to come and sit in on our Puppy Kindergarten class. My hope is that being in a room with young, small puppies and their humans will help Coco develop some confidence in social interactions.

Why do Dogs Bark at Humans When they Stand or Make Big Movements?

Some dogs feel scared or anxious when a stranger moves in a surprising or threatening way, making them uncomfortable.

Fearful dogs may perceive standing as a more dominant or authoritative posture. Coco growls and barks at people standing up because she is uncomfortable, not aggressive. She is just trying to communicate with her guardians.

Helping Coco and not punishing her for expressing her discomfort is important; otherwise, she will become frustrated.

Tips to Stop a Dog From Barking When People Stand Up

I gave Coco’s family some tips on dog behavior and then focused on her barking at strangers who come near her. I decided to use some counterconditioning to stop a dog from barking when people stand up.

Counterconditioning is a method used by expert dog trainers. It helps anxious dogs become more comfortable with things that usually make them nervous. It works by connecting something that usually upsets them with something that makes them feel good.

You can learn how to stop a fearful dog from barking when people move by watching the free positive dog training video below.

As you saw in the video above, in order to stop a dog from barking when people stand up, you need to change the way the dog thinks about the situation. Coco learns through positive reinforcement that when someone stands up, it means she might get a treat. She is no longer scared of sudden movements because she knows they could be good.

How to Stop a Dog from Barking at Strangers

The great thing about this secret to stopping a dog from barking at strangers is the simplicity. This is an easy way to stop a fearful dog from barking at strangers who stand up or move. It just takes set up scenarios and situations to practice it. If Coco can do more movements without barking, she will be less likely to bark at people in the future.

It is important to create a situation where the dog is rewarded for doing the behavior we want. Many pet parents give their dogs treats when they bark to calm them down or distract them. But this will only encourage them to continue the undesired behavior.

Another way to help a fearful dog stop barking at strangers or people moving too much is by playing the engage disengage game.

Dogs who get excited or scared by new things really enjoy playing the engage disengage game. It helps them learn to chill out and watch stuff like other dogs or people without going nuts. Before introducing your furry friend to this new game, be sure they’ve expended some energy beforehand.

We made a video to help Coco’s family remember all the dog training tips we went over during the session. You can watch it for free below.