I have the luxury of having two German Shepherds who, despite training, like to put on a ferocious show when someone comes to the door. When I see it's someone selling something, I don't hush the dogs, I just loop a single finger through each of their collars and open the door.
Usually, when the door swings open and there is 200 pounds of ferociously barking dogs staring at them, they basically ask .... "Do you want <fill in the blanks>?", I respond with "No Thanks". By this point, they are usually half way down the laneway.
Little do they know that my dogs are sucks and if I let them go, they would run out for a head scratch, then straight back in the house.
Haha, I can totally understand that. Who would want to face off against two ferocious looking German Shepherds!! Even if they are only really angling for a head scratch.
My two cats don't really cute quite the same menace routine. At the worst one of them might miaow for some food which isn't very intimidating!!