The bell rings, and your dog goes from sofa to door in one second, barking all the way. It is loud, it is common, and it is one of the most fixable habits a dog has. The trick is to see it from the dog's side, then give them a better job to do.

Why dogs bark at the door

For a dog, the front door is the edge of their home. A sound, a knock or a shadow in the letterbox says "something is coming", and barking is how dogs raise the alarm. Then the visitor goes away, and the dog thinks "it worked". That is why the habit grows: the barking is rewarded every single time.

Barking is not always excitement, either. The PDSA points out that it can be a sign the dog is struggling, so pay attention to what the rest of the body is doing.

What not to do

Shouting at a barking dog sounds, to the dog, like you are joining in. Punishing it can make the dog more worried or more excited, and the vets and behaviour groups we checked (PDSA, the Kennel Club and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) all point to rewarding the behaviour you want instead. So: no shouting, no sprays, no collars that shock or startle. Reward the calm.

The plan: bell, mat, treat

The method is the same in every source we read. You teach the bell to mean "good things happen on my mat", in small steps, with a bell your dog hears at a low level. Practise a few minutes at a time, when no one is really at the door.

1. Bell means treat. Make the sound, then give a tasty treat straight away. Repeat until the dog looks at you when they hear it.
2. Bell means mat. Pick a bed or mat away from the door. Make the sound, walk with your dog to the mat and reward them there.
3. Dog chooses the mat. Make the sound and wait. When your dog heads to the mat, go over and reward generously.
4. Stay a little longer. Add seconds on the mat, then a cue to release them. A stuffed food toy or a chew helps while you go to the door.
5. Real visitors. Ask a friend to text before they arrive, ring at set times and ignore the dog until you say so. Always get up and reward, even when you are tired.

Build your dog's doorbell plan

Don't shout, don't punish. Teach the bell to mean "go to your mat for a treat".

When to ask a vet

Ask your vet if your dog is very distressed when someone is at the door, if you see trembling, hiding, pacing or panting, or if training does not help after a few weeks. A vet can rule out pain or other health causes and point you to a qualified behaviourist. Never use shock or choke collars, or "firm" corrections.

Sources

• PDSA: how to ditch the doorbell drama
• The Kennel Club: teaching your dog to behave when the doorbell rings
• AVSAB: why you need to reward your dog in training

The Kennel Club says all door barking is territorial. The PDSA says it can also be stress, so we treat it as a guess and watch the dog's body language.