Bark

Helping Luffy Stay Calm Around Noises & Visitors

Hey Terence, welcome to your final lesson! You’ve been doing an amazing job with Luffy, and now we’ll focus on helping her stay calm when hearing door sounds and responding to visitors.

Need a refresher on exercises to reduce Luffy’s barking?

Jump back to Lesson 2

Exercise 1: Desensitisation to Door Sounds

This training will help Luffy gradually become less reactive to knocking and doorbells by exposing her to these sounds in a controlled way.

📅 Frequency: Daily, especially in the first few weeks.

🕒 Best times: When Luffy is alert but calm.

⏳ Duration: 5-10 minutes per session.

Training Steps:

Start with Low Volume Exposure – Play a doorbell or knocking sound at a very low volume (you can use a phone recording). If Luffy hears it but doesn’t bark, reward her with a treat and praise.
Gradually Increase the Volume – As she remains calm, slowly raise the volume over multiple sessions.
Pair Sounds with a Positive Experience – Give Luffy a tasty treat before she has a chance to react, teaching her that door sounds predict good things.
Introduce Real-Life Triggers – Have a family member knock softly or ring the doorbell, reinforcing calm behavior.

🐾 Paw Tip: If she barks, wait for a moment of quiet, then reward her to reinforce the calm behavior rather than the barking.

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Exercise 2: Counterconditioning with Positive Associations

Once Luffy is comfortable with door sounds, we’ll teach her that guest arrivals bring rewards, not stress.

📅 Frequency: 3-5 times per week.

🕒 Best times: During or right after trigger events (when the doorbell rings or a guest arrives).

⏳ Duration: 5-10 minutes per session.

Training Steps:

Create a Positive Association – Every time the doorbell rings or someone knocks, immediately give Luffy a treat before she barks.
Encourage an Alternative Behavior – Ask her to sit or lie down before opening the door, rewarding her for staying calm.
Gradually Increase Exposure – Over time, increase the intensity by having guests arrive more animatedly while reinforcing her calm behavior.
Practice Calm Greetings – When guests arrive, ask them to ignore Luffy at first. Once she settles, they can reward her with gentle attention and treats.

🐾 Paw Tip: Be patient! Luffy may take time to shift her automatic response, but consistency will help her learn that staying calm gets her what she wants — positive attention and treats.

🐾 Paw Tip: Scent-Based Games – Hiding treats around the house or give her nosework toy before guests arrive can redirect her focus away from barking.

Beyond Training: Tools & Tricks to Support Luffy’s Progress

While training is key, there are also practical tools that can help manage Luffy’s reactivity:

🐶 Environmental Adjustments:

🔇 White noise machines or calming music – Helps drown out triggering sounds. Try out these relaxing bits: White Noise Sounds, Noise & Rain, Relaxing Piano Music, Lo-Fi Relaxing Music
🪟 Blinds or frosted window film – Reduces visual triggers from outside movement.
🐕 Interactive puzzle toys & treat-dispensing toys – Keeps her mind engaged, making her less reactive to external noises. We love Pawzler Innovative Modulars with their Smart Sets and this Feeder Dumbbell Toy!

🌿 Calming Aids

💨 Pheromone diffusers (like Adaptil) – Releases a calming scent that mimics natural dog pheromones.
🍖 Long-lasting chews or frozen Kongs – Gives Luffy something soothing to focus on when noises happen.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Luffy?

Luffy is a smart, affectionate pup, and with continued practice, she’ll become even more confident in handling barking. Training takes time, so be patient and celebrate every little win!

🐾 Keep reinforcing calm behavior – Even after this course, keep practicing exposure training a few times a week to maintain progress.

🐶 Combine training with enrichment – The more mentally and physically fulfilled Snooffles is, the less likely she’ll be overly reactive.

❤️ Stay consistent – Training works best when everyone in the household follows the same approach.

Now that you understand Luffy’s barking better, you’re ready to help her feel calmer and more confident. With patience and practice, progress will come!

We hope you loved this course — keep celebrating the little wins and enjoying the journey with your pup. 💛🐾