[RKDinOKC]

I've always said, "Who is it? Is somebody out there?" to put them on puppy dog alert and listening. For the bark fest it's "Attack!" Pretty normal for dogs to bark at people coming to the door. Just start giving a command and praise for it when they do it. The trick is the "That's enough" to stop the bark fest.

I use the same sort of command for natural behavior and reward for when my dogs go to the restroom. "Do your stuff" is number 1 and "Do number 6" is number 2. Also put them on leash at first to take them to the same area. Now she may run all over the yard, but goes in he same area to take care of business. Great for pooper scooping and avoiding that area when playing in the yard.

It is also great when taking her anywhere. Before leaving can take her out and give the "Do your stuff" command and ask if she needs to do number six. She will go if she needs to, usually does her stuff. Only takes a couple of trips for her to realize the pit stop opportunity before leaving. Then I don't have to worry while we are out running around. Unlike kids, dogs will go before we go. Most times now if I ask Pepper if she wants to go for a ride, she runs to the back door to go do her stuff first.

Remember when I had my first Golden, Penny, was invited to the Golden Retriever Club's Christmas party. Almost everyone there brought their dogs kenneled in their cars. Every so often they would go let their dogs out to see if they needed to go to the restroom. Most of the time they just walked around with their dogs on leash with the dog sniffing everywhere but not do anything. Then after 20 minutes or so they would kennel them back up and go back into the party.

The girl that invited me had brought her dogs and told me to bring Penny. That was a little awkward picking her up to take to the party. Had to load the kennels and dogs into the back of my Jeep Cherokee to take them. Penny just rode in the back seat. Didn't tell my data Penny usually rode in the front seat. That would have been REALLY awkward, LOL.

While at the party I would follow my date for her dogs potty break opportunities. While out asked Penny if she needed to do her stuff and she would just remain sitting or laying in the back seat. The gril and several of the other owners commented that I never let Penny out to use the restroom and I should. Just said she doesn't have to go and went on.

Finally after the 4th potty break when I asked Pepper if she had to do her stuff she stood up in the back seat and barked. So I opened the car door and pointed to a grassy area and told her to Do your stuff. She ran over to where I pointed, did her stuff, then ran back and jumped into the back seat, all off leash. The other golden owners meandering around with dogs on leash, including my date just stood there slack jawed. I said, well, she barked when I asked if she had to go do her stuff.

They all made a big deal of it and asked me to bring Pepper into the party so they could all meet her. Penny was the only dog that go to come into the party including the owners of the dog ranch where the party was at. I thought it was kinda weird. All these dog show and hunting dog trainers that take their dogs different places all the time and not one of them had thought to even try teach their dog to go on command. They talked about how they were happy if their dogs just stood by the door when they had to go. Penny loved the extra attention and it made me feel like a dog training celebrity.