How to Train Dogs to Accept Strangers In the Home

Dogs are often very territorial creatures, which can make them weary of new people. Unfamiliar smells, sounds and movements can scare dogs and make them think that someone has bad intentions for them and/or their people. They show their fear of strangers by barking, crying, jumping on and maybe even attacking unfamiliar people as they come into their houses. Training a dog to accept strangers is a difficult task that may take some time to accomplish. Be patient and willing to try different techniques.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
  • Water bottle
  • Dog leash
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Instructions

    • 1

      Introduce your dog to a lot of different people when it is still a puppy. The behavior that a dog learns as a puppy greatly influences the way that it acts and perceives things throughout its life. Take your dog on long walks or to parks where it can see various people of all ages. Ask your friends and family to come to your house to greet the dog so that it can get used to strangers coming into its house. But don't stop when it is no longer a puppy; make sure your dog has contact with other people throughout its life.

    • 2

      Tell the dog firmly to stop if it barks when a stranger walks into your house. Saying "no" in a firm voice suffices. Do not shout or repeatedly tell the dog "no," or it may think that you, too, are barking at the stranger.

    • 3

      Praise your dog when it stops barking. When it is quiet and calm, gently pet it and tell it that it is a "good dog." If you reward it when it stops barking, it may start to realize that barking at strangers is not a good way to behave.

    • 4

      Distract the dog. If it does not respond to your firm commands to stop barking, distract it with a treat or toy. Its attention is then focused on the item that it enjoys instead of the stranger. If the stranger feels comfortable doing so, give him the treat to hold and feed to the dog. If the dog is trained to sit or shake when faced with a treat, make the stranger issue those commands to the dog. Ask the stranger to speak in a soft, friendly voice when addressing the dog. When the stranger praises the dog and rewards it with a treat, he is showing the dog that he means no harm.

    • 5

      Spray the dog with a water bottle if it does not respond to any other commands and persists in barking. Do not soak the dog or cover it with water. Spraying a little bit gets its attention and helps it to see that you do not condone its barking. Make sure you are the one to spray it and not the stranger. The dog knows and respects you. If the stranger sprays the dog, it may grow more fearful of the stranger.