Bark

Teaching Snooffles to Stay Calm Around Strangers & Visitors

Hey Sharon, welcome to the final lesson! 🎉 Snooffles has made great progress, and now we’ll focus on helping her stay calm around strangers, visitors, and other dogs. Since she’s young and full of energy, we’ll use structured training to guide her toward better impulse control and polite social interactions.

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

Jump back to Lesson 2

How to Help Snooffles Stay Focused and Calm?

These exercises will teach Snooffles to shift her focus, manage her excitement, and respond more calmly to triggers.

Step 1: “Noise Desensitization & Calm Reinforcement”

📅 Practice: 4-5 times per week

🕒 Best times: During calm moments when Snooffles is relaxed but alert.

Step-by-Step Training Guide:

Start with Low Volume – Play recorded doorbells, knocking, or street sounds at a barely audible level. Reward Snooffles with a treat for staying calm.
Gradually Increase Intensity – As she remains relaxed, slowly raise the volume over multiple sessions. If she reacts, lower the volume and try again.
Pair Sounds with Positive Reinforcement – Each time she hears a sound without barking, reward her with a treat, praise, or gentle petting.
Introduce Real-Life Sounds – Once she’s comfortable with recordings, practice with actual door knocks and doorbells, keeping sessions short and positive.
Encourage Settling Behavior – If she remains calm after hearing the sound, reward her for lying down or staying in place rather than rushing toward the noise.

🐾 Paw Tip: Use long-lasting chews or stuffed Kongs during sound exposure to reinforce a relaxed state. This helps Snooffles associate noises with calmness instead of excitement.

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Step 2: Place Training for Visitors

Snooffles barks at doorbells and visitors because she sees them as exciting, unexpected changes. Teaching her to go to a designated place when guests arrive gives her a predictable routine, reducing excitement and alert barking.

📅 Practice: Daily for short sessions

🕒 Best times: Before visitors arrive or during quiet moments to reinforce the behavior.

Step-by-Step Training Guide:

Choose a Spot – Pick a bed, crate, or designated mat where Snooffles can settle when guests arrive.
Introduce the Command – Say “Place” and guide her to the spot. Reward her immediately.
Add the Doorbell/Knock – Ring the bell at a low volume, then cue “Place.” If she goes there, reward with a treat.
Gradually Increase Difficulty – Work up to real visitors! When the doorbell rings, cue “Place,” reward, and only let her interact when calm.
Be Consistent – With regular practice, she’ll learn that guest arrivals mean heading to her safe spot—not barking!

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

While training is key, there are also practical tools that can help manage Snooffles’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 Snooffles something soothing to focus on when noises happen.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Snooffles?

Snooffles 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 Snooffles’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. 💛🐾