It’s October, which means Halloween is right around the corner. This holiday can be a lot of fun for most families. After all, it’s a magical time were kids get to dress up in fun costumes, hangout with their friends and collect lots of candy. However, for some dogs the constant ringing of the doorbell by trick-or-treaters can be a source of stress and anxiety that makes the holiday more scary than fun.
If you’re worried you dog may be extra stressed by the doorbell that evening because of all your little visitors, you’re not alone. This is something a lot of people deal with who have a pet. However, the good news is there are some things you can do to help your dog if they don’t like the sound of your doorbell to prepare them for that evening.
Read on to find out what you can do to keep your dog calm during Halloween doorbell chaos. Plus, if you have a new pet and you’re not sure how they will react to all the Halloween chaos, we also cover signs you can look out for that means your pet is stressed. That way, you can watch their body language whenever your doorbell rings leading up to Halloween to get an idea of how you can help prepare them for October 31, so when the day arrives, they can enjoy the special evening.
Why do dogs bark at doorbells?
Dogs that are prone to anxiety look at Halloween sights and sounds as an invasion. When the doorbell ringing over and over again as kids are trick-or-treating and showing up in scary masks, it can make a lot of dogs nervous and can be too much for some dogs to handle. That happens because it’s a type of sensory overload, which means some dogs might need extra preparations for that night.
Signs your doorbell stresses out your dog
Pacing
Pacing is a common sign that your dog is feeling stressed or anxious, especially during high-stimulation events like Halloween. The constant sound of the doorbell ringing and people approaching your door can trigger your dog’s alert instincts, making them feel unsettled or unsure about who’s entering their space, so they pace as a way to cope with that tension.
Hiding
Although some dogs will prefer to bark and challenge every visitor that comes to collect candy at your door, hiding is another common behavior of dogs when they are stressed from the sound of the doorbell ringing.
Panting
Panting can be a sign your dog is stressed by the doorbell ringing on Halloween because it’s one of the ways dogs regulate their emotions. When they’re anxious or overwhelmed, their body reacts much like it would during physical exertion where they have an increased heart rate, adrenaline and breathing. So, if your dog is panting heavily without exercise or heat, it could be their way of coping with the constant stimulation and unpredictability of trick-or-treaters.
Fearful body language
Dogs will tend to hold the ears back against the head, lick their lips and tuck the tail between the legs when they are stressed due to activities on Halloween, like the doorbell ringing when kids show up to get candy.
Inappropriate urination
Not being able to control their urination can also be a sign that your dog is stressed by Halloween chaos, including the doorbell ringing and seeing visitors in costumes arrive at your house throughout the night. You might even notice your dog dribbling urine or some dogs will also have nervous diarrhea instead.
How to prepare your dog before trick-or-treaters arrive
Positive reinforcement
One way to help prepare your dogs for Halloween is to help them realize Halloween visitors are a positive thing. Positive reinforcement works well with dogs. In the late afternoon/early evening when most of the visitors come, sit out on the porch and when each group of kids arrive and give your dog a treat when they don’t bark or react.
Walk them before Halloween festivities
Most anxious dogs are much better behaved if they are tired. That’s why taking your dog on a long walk or hike the afternoon of Halloween can work wonders when it comes to how they behave later that day.
Use commands
If you have obedience trained your dog, use the commands your dog knows when the doorbell rings. When you do, it can help train your dog not to bark at the doorbell. For example, ask your dog to sit/stay and give them a treat and a lot of praise when they obey.
Instead of trying this for the first time during trick-or-treating, start practicing giving your dog this command several days before Halloween to see how your dog reacts when a visitor comes into the room. If your dog has already done this when you practice, then the night of Halloween, they will usually be more obedient.
Invest in calming treats
If your dog is especially nervous, sometime calming treats can help. They are designed to help your pup when they are anxious by using natural ingredients like chamomile or L-theanine to promote relaxation without making them drowsy. Always check with your vet before introducing new supplements to your pet, though, especially if you want to use them around high-stress events like Halloween.
Keep them away from the door
Some dogs are just better off being put in a separate room when it comes to Halloween night and trick-or-treaters. If your dog is especially anxious from the doorbell, you might want to have them hangout in a spare bedroom or a room on another level of your house while visitors are coming and going. If you have a space where a TV can be on, that will also help drown out the noise. There are even lots of great YouTube videos featuring calming music for anxious dogs that you can turn on during that time. You can put the volume high enough so that your dog does not even notice the doorbell.
How to stop your dog from barking at the doorbell
If the doorbell is an issue for your dog not just on Halloween, but all year round, you can try desensitizing your dog to it. That means that you want to get your dog used to the noise, so it doesn’t shock them whenever it goes off. There are several ways you can go about training your dog to not bark at the doorbell or react to trick-or-treaters.
One way you can do this is to sit in the living room with your dog and have a second person ring your doorbell. Even when your dog reacts, you should not as most dogs will eventually look to their pack family leader to see how he or she is going to respond to the bell. Because of that, just ignore your dog reacting and ignore the doorbell. Then as soon as your dog is calmer, command them to sit/stay and give them a treat. Pairing the sound with positive experiences will help your dog form a new, calm association with the noise, rather than seeing it as a threat and being shocked by its sound. Have the other person wait about five minutes and repeat ringing the doorbell again, along with the steps.
Overall, consistency and patience are key when training your dog to stop barking at the doorbell. Dogs are individuals, so there is no one who can tell you that this is going to work by the fourth or fifth time you try it. When your dog eventually stops reacting to the doorbell sound, take it up a notch by having a ‘visitor’ come in and not speak or pet your dog, and then leave. This should be repeated for about 5 minutes straight. Eventually your dog will stop reacting to the bell at all. If you are worried about Halloween, you should practice this for at least a week ahead of time.
