How To Stop Dogs from Barking At Windows

If your puppy is barking at people or cars passing the window, teach them to do something else instead. 

Humans love to watch the world go by but some dogs find this quite stressful, so give your dog another option. 

Set your puppy up for success by teaching them what they should be doing, rather than expecting them to figure this out on their own (and getting frustrated when they choose to bark).

I love teaching puppies the “on your mat” command because it’s useful in so many situations, including barking at the windows. 

In this video I talk about why and how to use this command and the instructions for teaching the command are below:

The Training Method: On Your Mat

There are lots of different ways to train this command and I’ve chosen what I think is the easiest.

It involves luring the dog with treats and you have to start practicing when there are no other distractions.

Step 1

Lay your pup’s mat or bed down beside them. Hold a treat over the mat so they have to touch the mat to get the treat. 

Call your dog away from the mat (treat for the recall)

Repeat step 1 many times

Step 2

Move further away from the mat and toss the treat onto the mat, so pup has to get onto the mat to get the treat.

Call your dog away from the mat (treat for the recall)

Repeat step 2 many times

Step 3

Say “On your mat” and throw the treat onto the mat

Reinforce the mat stay with loads of treats tossed her way, or a stuffed kong or yummy bone to chew on

Call your dog away from the mat (treat for the recall)

Repeat step 4 many times

Step 4

Practice the command when you’re in different rooms of the house and when you’re in different positions - sitting at your desk, preparing dinner at the counter, lying on the sofa etc

Step 5

Practice this command when someone passes the window.

Expect your dog to bark at the window at first because they’ve had a lot of practice doing this (sometimes you take a step back before moving forward)

Say “on your mat” and if your dog is so worked up they can’t hear you, go and get them, take them to their mat and treat them for being there. 

Continue to practice this command each time someone passes the window until your dog remembers to do it on their own.

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