People have been told to not give their dog into trouble
Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, is urging pet owners to learn how to spot the signs of stress in their pets, as they could mistake it for being a bad dog.
Thousands of dogs bark, jump and race to the door the moment the post arrives. But according to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), what many owners may see as “naughty” behaviour is often linked to stress.
As part of Dog Awareness Week 2026, running until July 10, PDSA is encouraging pet owners to take up simple reward-based training to help dogs stay calm, reduce stress and even lower the risk of biting.
PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Walsh said: “Dogs often see the front door as part of their territory, so when someone arrives unexpectedly, their instinct is to investigate or alert their family. While this behaviour is completely normal, it can quickly become stressful for both dogs and pet owners if it gets out of hand, and in some extreme cases can even lead to a dog biting.”
Many dogs unknowingly rehearse the same behaviour every single day. “From your dog’s perspective, barking works. The post person arrives, your dog barks, and then the post person leaves. Your dog may genuinely believe they’ve chased the visitor away, which reinforces the behaviour every time it happens”, the expert adds.
Bad or stressed?
The charity highlights that barking is not always a sign of excitement. It can also be a sign that a pet is struggling. PDSA recommends that you also look out for these signs in your dog:
- Excessive barking or jumping up
- Pacing and panting
- Whining, trembling, or hiding away
- Ears pinned back
- Difficulty settling after visitors leave
Shauna added: “Punishing a dog for barking is likely to make the situation worse because they’re often already feeling worried or overwhelmed. Rewarding calm behaviour is far more effective and helps build your dog’s confidence.
“Most dogs can learn to stay calm when the doorbell rings, but it takes patience and practice. Teaching an alternative behaviour and rewarding calm responses can make postal deliveries and visitors arriving much less stressful for everyone.”
If a dog shows signs of severe distress when someone comes to the door, or if training doesn’t seem to be helping, PDSA recommends consulting a vet.
Do this when your dog barks
Rather than telling dogs off, PDSA suggests that pet owners should teach them a new routine: “Instead of focusing on stopping the barking, teach your dog what you’d like them to do instead. For example, training them to go to their bed or mat when the doorbell rings gives them a clear job, helps them feel secure and makes answering the door much calmer for everyone.”
It also suggests practising with recorded doorbell sounds or loud knocks before moving on to real visitors and giving your dog a stuffed food toy, puzzle feeder, or safe chew while you answer the door.
Always remember to reward them whenever they choose to relax on their bed or mat. Never shout or punish barking, as this can increase the dog’s fear and excitement – keep training short, positive, and consistent.
Dog’s Trust warning
Experts at Dogs Trust warn that ignoring or discouraging these early warning signs can teach a dog that subtle signals of fear don’t work. As a result, they may feel they have no option but to escalate their behaviour next time, potentially to lunging or biting.
It explains: “If your dog shows any signs of aggression, avoid the triggers for that behaviour as much as possible. This might mean keeping your dog completely away from whatever appears to be making them feel uncomfortable. Then seek help from your vet or a qualified behaviourist as soon as possible.
“Pain and medical disorders can affect your dog’s behaviour. If your dog shows signs of being fearful, speak to your vet to check if there are no underlying health problems that might be contributing to their behaviour.
“If the vet finds that your dog is in good health, then ask for a referral to an accredited behaviourist for individual support.”




















You must be logged in to post a comment Login