Training to pick up a toy rather than bark at the door?

Alright so we all know how impossible it is to get our little buddies to stop barking at sounds/things/people/whatever so I want to try the method of teaching my corgi to pick up a toy (or any designated item) to keep him from barking when people come to our door or are in the hallways.

But I need help! I'm not sure how to teach him this. I've had great success with teaching him other tricks but when it comes to this I'm not sure what I'm suppose to do. I've tried the command of "Go get a toy/ball" when he's fussing over the door but what is on the other side of the door is a much larger concern in that moment.

So what should I do to teach my dog to go get something rather than bark at the door? What worked for you if you where able to achieve this?

Also I've tried doing a few google searches on it but I can't seem to find anything that is about training a dog to do this.

TIA for any help you have!

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Permalink Reply by Carl Koch on August 13, 2015 at 11:56am

Interesting. We like it when Betty warns us of something or someone approaching our apartment. We are both hard of hearing at times. She has learned to distinguish our neighbors from someone at our door. She barks until we open the door and she sees the person there. If it is someone she knows she goes back to nappy time. If not, she inserts herself between us and the stranger. She doesn't make any sounds but the hair on her back stands up and she stares at the person. If we invite the stranger in (unlikely) she goes about her business. She doesn't make any overt moves but there is no doubt in my mind that if the person forced their way in there would be hell to pay. She is incredibly protective of my wife and I. In spite of her hair trigger, she immediately minds me if I call her off. At least for now.

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Permalink Reply by Holly on August 13, 2015 at 7:48pm

Yes, having the alert bark is great if you are Hard of Hearing, as long as the dog doesn't begin barking for no reason. Lately Sully has been barking for meals as well as the acceptable reasons, such as a knock at the door or a need to go out. Not sure if I am on target, but I bring her out every time she barks, even at 5 am, just in case. She eats at 7 am and 7 pm, with few exceptions. I will take her out (reluctantly) at 5 AM, but I refuse to feed her before 6:30 AM. In other words she gets rewarded for an alert bark, followed by "quiet," and she gets to go out just in case she needs to go, but she doesn't get to dictate her feeding schedule. Unfortunately some of her walks are reinforcing because of all her petting buddies in the neighborhood, but at least they are not out at dawn! I do think Sully is aware of when barking is necessary and acceptable and when it is overkill. That is my opinion at least, based on past behavior. Unfortunately, I am fairly good at creating monsters, cute monsters, but monsters none-the-less!

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Permalink Reply by Holly on August 13, 2015 at 7:57pm

By the way, I am not heartless about PTSD. I hate to see animals and people suffer, but I do think it is important to stay calm and give the impression that the issue is not the end of the world as people and animals in panic look to us for reassurance and they will stay calmer if we act is if noises are no big deal. That of course needs to be taken in steps over time, but I have seen dogs go from panic mode to relaxed when they get brief reassurance and calm support. Just me opinion, but animals that are over-protected do seem to take much longer to adjust to fears, in my opinion.