Anonymous wrote:I thought this was a good thing? I’m glad my dog barks at strangers outside the door, especially when I’m home by myself.

People have different feelings about it. Personally, I trained mine to "settle" when instructed but did not feel the need to out train that initial alert that someone is there. There have been a few times I haven't glad to have been alerted to something or someone unexpected I have been glad to have some warning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this sounds stupid but can anyone tell me how to train it? Part of the problem is that I don’t know when the guy comes so I can put him in a down stay and get him settled in advance. I’ve been sleeping downstairs on milk night and when th guy comes I then try to hush him.

I did buy a bark collar but it doesn’t seem to work. Maybe I need to order a different brand.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-dog-barking-doorbell/

And you don't have to only do it at 4 am, and in fact you shouldn't. Get a friend to make milk delivery noises outside during waking hours while you are ready with treats and awake enough to make sure the dog understands what you want.

+1. I helped an old neighbor work on training her dog on not freaking out about people at the door - I think she even got a noise-activated treat dispenser that she placed at the back of her house, so eventually when the doorbell rang, the dog would sprint *away* from the door to look for the treats. But [most] dogs can't compartmentalize, so if you want your dog barking at anyone else who finds themselves on your porch at 4 AM, you'll have to deal with the barking for milk delivery (unless, as a PP suggested, you move the milk box further out).

Anonymous wrote:I know this sounds stupid but can anyone tell me how to train it? Part of the problem is that I don’t know when the guy comes so I can put him in a down stay and get him settled in advance. I’ve been sleeping downstairs on milk night and when th guy comes I then try to hush him.

I did buy a bark collar but it doesn’t seem to work. Maybe I need to order a different brand.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/stop-dog-barking-doorbell/

And you don't have to only do it at 4 am, and in fact you shouldn't. Get a friend to make milk delivery noises outside during waking hours while you are ready with treats and awake enough to make sure the dog understands what you want.

I thought this was a good thing? I’m glad my dog barks at strangers outside the door, especially when I’m home by myself.

You don’t want a bark collar OP you want one with a remote. My dog ( age 3 when adopted) sleeps in our room but would bark when spouse gets in from work at midnight. Went on for 2 weeks. I bought an E collar with a beep, vibrate and shock, all with varying levels.
Only took 2 nights of the vibration for him to stop.
Try that. Or another alternate is a noise machine. White noise to block the delivery noise.