When your dog starts barking, ask him to do something that’s incompatible with barking. Teach your dog to do something that inhibits him from barking, such as lying down in his bed, in response to the stimuli that elicits barking.

Example: someone at the door

• Toss a treat on his mat and tell him to “go to your place.”
• When he’s reliably going to his mat to earn a treat, up the ante by opening the door while he’s on his mat. If he gets up, close the door immediately.
• Repeat until he stays on his mat while the door opens.
• Then increase the difficulty by having someone ring the doorbell while your dog is on his mat. Reward him if he stays in place.