Boxers dont like doorbell...HELP!!!

[BoxerKay]

I have a 4 year old female boxer and a 5 year old male boxer, they are best friends. However, when somebody rings the doorbell they turn on each other and the male will pin the female to the floor and they are both growling and barking at each other. Sometimes they will actually stand on their hind legs and lock into each other. I have a small child so there is a baby gate at the top of the stairs leading down to the door, so the dogs dont actually get to the door. So I'm in desperate need of help before my dogs hurt each other or accidently hurt my child. What can I do to stop this behavior???
Thanks

 

[Eleonora II]

Maybe

this might help you? Friends of ours had a very aggressive door bell and each time the bell rang her dog went crazy. Barking, running to the door, jumping and scratching. She tried everything to no avail. Finally she decided to change the door bell. She now has chimes ... and the problem is solved.

Maybe worth to try? Good luck!

 

[BoxerKay]

I will definitely give that a try...thanks so much!!

 

[srennie]

Do they also do that when someone knocks at the door? If so, it could be frustration and redirection on eachother because they can't get to the door to investigate the visitor. If they don't do it for knocking visitors then changing the bell might work or even disconnecting it all together.

Also, instead of focusing on what you do NOT want them to do when someone comes to the door, focus on what you DO want them to do. Start training for a ritual...like when they hear the doorbell/knock they sit and get a treat. If you figure out what you want them to do and guide them in that direction it will be more clear to them.

 

[BoxerKay]

Thank you both for the advise. Changing the doorbell made no difference. So I have taken your advice and once somebody knocks at the door (we no longer have a doorbell) before I go to answer it I try and get them to sit first rather then me jumping over the gate and running to to the door.
I really do believe that I was focusing more on getting to the door first and letting the dogs just do their thing and then and then dealing with them later. So hopefully my shift in focus to the dogs first will help. Fingers crossed!!!!