Help! My dog barks at people passing by the gate

Many dog owners know the feeling: your dog rushes to the gate and starts barking the moment someone walks by. The passerby speeds up or disappears from sight — exactly what your dog wanted. Without realizing it, this behavior gets reinforced every single time.

Why your dog keeps barking

To your dog, it feels like he’s successfully chased the intruder away. The passerby walks off, so in your dog’s mind, the barking worked. Each time this happens, the pattern is reinforced and the trigger (the “enemy”) becomes even more significant. That’s how a vicious cycle begins — mail carriers, walkers, or cyclists disappear, and your dog feels rewarded every single time.

Possible solutions

Breaking this behavior isn’t easy, but there are strategies that can help:

1. Choose the right moment to let your dog outside

Laat je hond naar buiten wanneer de kans klein is dat er mensen langskomen. Zo vermijd je dat hij steeds “succes” ervaart.

2. Go outside with your dog and redirect with attention and rewards

Stay close to your dog, speak softly, and keep him near you. Reward him with treats when he stays calm and focuses on sniffing instead of barking.

3. Block your dog’s access to the gate

For example, place a small fence or barrier. When your dog stops, there’s a brief moment of confusion — use that moment to cheerfully call him back and reward him right away with a treat.

Tip: Avoid shouting “no!” or “bad dog!” — to your dog, it can sound like you’re barking along and encouraging him instead.

4. With multiple dogs: let the calmest one out first

Dogs tend to encourage each other. If the calmest dog goes outside first, there’s less chance of a “barking team” forming.

Important to remember

Unlearning barking behavior takes time, patience, and positive training. Punishment or shouting usually has the opposite effect. Work step by step, reward the behavior you want to see, and try to prevent your dog from feeling “successful” each time he chases someone away.

Extra tip: If the problem persists or your dog seems very stressed, consider working with a certified canine behavior therapist.