Staying calm when the doorbell rings

[Murphys Law]

Has anyone got any tips for my pair of uncontrollable monsters to keep calm when someone rings the doorbell?

When we were just a one dog family I could contain the situation but now I have got two dogs, problems have started to arise. Both of them managed to escape down the drive yesterday when one of my son's friends called and swung the door wide open as he came in.

At the moment I feel as though I have two feral dogs when somebody calls.

[tenaille]

short of fitting an airlock I've no suggestions, however if you do ever find the solution please share 

[Murphys Law]

short of fitting an airlock I've no suggestions, however if you do ever find the solution please share 

 
Unfortunately I was planning on spending so much money on an air lock.

[lescef]

I have the same problem!  I'm also concerned about it as they sound really fierce and must scare anyone knocking. With the new laws about dogs on private property being dangerous........
I did try with Maddie once. You can teach them to go to a set place when they hear the door go. But it takes two people and LOTS of practice. And you'd have to train them separately I should think.  Then, of course, your adult children let themselves in with their own keys and the whole exercise becomes a failure!
If I'm organised I throw treats and shut them in a room.

[elaine.e]

I didn't have a problem when I only had William, but Louis is very different and very alert to the post coming through the letterbox and people ringing the doorbell or knocking the door. Once he starts barking William joins in.

I've taught them that they can bark for however long it takes me to walk into the hall from wherever I am, but then they have to go into the study, which is off the hall. Once they're in the study they stop barking and I can open the front door in peace. It helps that I have a babygate across the hall a couple of metres away from the front door. I've noticed that if the gate isn't there and Louis can get right up to the front door he becomes quite worried and his barking is louder.

Even if they were both perfectly behaved I wouldn't let them greet strangers at the front door. The changes to the law a couple of years ago mean that even a bit of excited barking or a friendly jump up could mean a complaint if the person at the door felt threatened. Also, much as I love my dogs why should I expect visitors, delivery drivers or the postman to like them?

[Pearly]

^^^ as Ealine although my two are mostly in the kitchen and the stairgates is across the kitchen door.  I also have an airlock with a small entrance hall

Pearl is just the same as Louis and gets more excitable/anxious if she's near the door.

My two know the command word "enough" and will be quiet now but it's taken quite a bit of patience

[Finvarra]

Dylan just wants to lick em to death 

Lesley and Dylan

[Archie bean]

Archie goes behind a baby gate in the lounge. It's right next to the front door so he can see who's there but can't get out. He makes lots of high pitched squeaky barks but until he calms down he can't come and meet any visitors! He knows the phrase "in the lounge" and trots in happily. Funnily enough, he makes no noise when someone knocks on the door but will start his barky whine as soon as I say it! 
I do wish I didn't have the gate cluttering up the place but it's much safer to be able to put him in there whenever I need to

[bizzylizzy]

Dylan just wants to lick em to death 

Lesley and Dylan

That's like Humphrey!

[EmmaRose]

Two more barkers here!! I also keep them in the kitchen behind the baby gate and out of the hall so they can never get to the door but would love it if I could teach them  not to bark when they hear a knock.  I did think about teaching them to go to their bed at the sound of a doorbell and then having it installed but haven't got round to it (recall and loose lead walking are our priority at the moment  ) maybe one day... 

[Murphys Law]

Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to try and train them to go into the front room when somebody calls. Note the word 'try'

I just seem to be trying to sort out one bad habit after another. Millies latest thing is to paw all her water out of her bowl     At least when she made toileting mistakes it was only a little puddle