Protecting our house from the parcel delivery man

I have a gentle golden retriever but when anyone dares walk by our door he sounds like a ferocious guard dog. Then he immediately begins to cry as he runs to lie down, hanging his head in shame because he knows we disapprove!

It's very difficult to train them against their natural protective instincts. Barking at the door knock or door bell is one of the more difficult things to train, and we are still working on our 5 year old aussie shepherd.

If we know someone is coming we announce it, and she will patiently wait on her stool by the front window. I will know by the frantic tail wagging that Uncle J has arrived, or the grandchildren, etc. However, when the doorbell is rung unannounced, she does go into a frantic barking mode. I usually will get a treat, tell her to sit, and then answer the door, hoping that whoever is outside is patient.

we are still working on her.

Our terrier flies at the front door every time the postman comes, we had to fit a cage to catch the post or it gets shredded.