Some history:
I have two dogs, both rescues. One is a 60lb lab mix (we think weimeraner but not sure) the other a 16 lb pug/rat terrier cross both around 3-4 years old we guess maybe 1-2 years older. The pug/rat listens but not very well. We are still working with her. We wait her out and eventually she does what we are asking.
They both have difficulties at our front door. They have similar yet different problems. My difficulty is dealing with both of them and still being able to answer the door before people leave.
They both bark, but mostly the lab.
Lets start with the lab.
He barks so loudly when someone comes to the house. I can get him to stop, sit and wait while people come in. But he is not good enough yet to do this on his own. I need to be there with my hand held up for his wait command to remind him he is in a sit stay. If I don't do this, he jumps all over the people. However, if I can't stand there with the stay/wait command then he will bark. I have a 7 month old so often have to bring her with me to the door so can't open the door, hold baby and hold the wait signal
Now for the pug/rat. She jumps up on people too but she doesn't actually jump just lifts her front paws. People think this is cute and I remind them to ignore her. They let her get away with this because she is small. My difficulty is that I don't want her to sneak out the door as her recall is not 100%.
I currently have a baby gate at the front entrance way, so that the people entering the house have a space to themselves and don't have to worry about the dogs. I have it there because with two dogs and a baby I can't be with both dogs all the time. I'm trying to work with the lab while explaining to guests to ignore the little one until she is calm. I would LOVE to remove the baby gate. I'm afraid that someone is going to let the dogs out and I wouldn't want them to get hit by a car or lost etc. I love them soo much.
Any suggestions? I have family that knows these things, but it is more like when I'm getting mail and need to open the door or something.
I'm thinking of putting the baby gate at the end of the stairs on the outside of the house just while training. Have someone inside and I'll go outside and walk in the door. This way the dogs can't get past the end of the porch so they are safe. But I can try to see how they react to people coming in the door. Once I get them used to staying inside then I can get family to test and do this.
On a side note: If you don't knock and you just come right in they have a much less intense reaction. And once you come in they are calm within 2-3 minutes. It is really just this initial frenzy
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have two dogs, both rescues. One is a 60lb lab mix (we think weimeraner but not sure) the other a 16 lb pug/rat terrier cross both around 3-4 years old we guess maybe 1-2 years older. The pug/rat listens but not very well. We are still working with her. We wait her out and eventually she does what we are asking.
They both have difficulties at our front door. They have similar yet different problems. My difficulty is dealing with both of them and still being able to answer the door before people leave.
They both bark, but mostly the lab.
Lets start with the lab.
He barks so loudly when someone comes to the house. I can get him to stop, sit and wait while people come in. But he is not good enough yet to do this on his own. I need to be there with my hand held up for his wait command to remind him he is in a sit stay. If I don't do this, he jumps all over the people. However, if I can't stand there with the stay/wait command then he will bark. I have a 7 month old so often have to bring her with me to the door so can't open the door, hold baby and hold the wait signal
Now for the pug/rat. She jumps up on people too but she doesn't actually jump just lifts her front paws. People think this is cute and I remind them to ignore her. They let her get away with this because she is small. My difficulty is that I don't want her to sneak out the door as her recall is not 100%.
I currently have a baby gate at the front entrance way, so that the people entering the house have a space to themselves and don't have to worry about the dogs. I have it there because with two dogs and a baby I can't be with both dogs all the time. I'm trying to work with the lab while explaining to guests to ignore the little one until she is calm. I would LOVE to remove the baby gate. I'm afraid that someone is going to let the dogs out and I wouldn't want them to get hit by a car or lost etc. I love them soo much.
Any suggestions? I have family that knows these things, but it is more like when I'm getting mail and need to open the door or something.
I'm thinking of putting the baby gate at the end of the stairs on the outside of the house just while training. Have someone inside and I'll go outside and walk in the door. This way the dogs can't get past the end of the porch so they are safe. But I can try to see how they react to people coming in the door. Once I get them used to staying inside then I can get family to test and do this.
On a side note: If you don't knock and you just come right in they have a much less intense reaction. And once you come in they are calm within 2-3 minutes. It is really just this initial frenzy
Any help would be greatly appreciated.