bark! bark! bark!

[Shelties]

I used to smile at the fact that some sheltie owners have problems with their dogs barking traits and i would always say that mine must be rare because he NEVER barks. The only time he would bark is if someone knocks at the door OR ring the door bell and he would stop when i answer it. NOW that we are temporarily living with my parents, Casey has now started to bark off the wall since the other two dogs bark at everything as well!.

SO i resorted to training casey to be quiet on command BUT every time he barks my natural instinct is to tell him to stop. I use the word "stop" so much now he quiets down on the stop command!!....That is not what i wanted to do. I use the stop command if we are on a busy road and have to wait at the curb to cross the street. This is going to be fun trying to reverse the command otherwise i think it would confuse him if i use "stop" when we are at the curb and "stop" if he barks too much.

I read on the german shepherd forum that the owners use the word "post it" to make their dog "freeze" instead of running up at the door when the owner answers. I wonder if i can use that command at a busy street?. Post it seems to have the same meaning as "freeze" anyhow.

[rottielover]

I use quiet, works well with me.

[Punkygirl0101]

I use either "Shush" or just use "Inside" to get them to come in and stop barking. I got hounds..and boy do they love to bark.

I used to be bad, and use their names in a negative voice, still on occasion I do that.. they actually seem to know the difference. When I am saying their names in a negative way, it means they are doing something bad..and they stop.And when I say it in a cheerful way, they are doing something good. And when I am calling them to me, i use it in a neutral way.

[flyndog]

You can use any command you want, as long as you use it consistently. Since "stop" is working so well to accomplish what you wanted (stop barking) I suggest you train a new word for waiting at curbs. Maybe "wait"? But, if you want to get rid of the "stop" cue for barking, hand signals are a good way to do that. Dogs pick up on hand signals much easier and faster than verbal commands. You could stay "stop", and put your finger to your lips (the hand signal). Eventually, stop saying "stop" with the hand signal and just use the hand signal. That fades away the verbal "stop" cue. When the "stop" verbal cue is gone, you could install a new verbal cue (for instance, "shhh" or "quiet" or "no bark") with the hand signal if you want. Or not.

[Rivsky]

I agree that it's probably better to change the command for the waiting at the kerb thing - the barking is obviously annoying so I'd stick with what he has learnt there.

I use "wait" for standing at kerbs as well and seems to work well - it's different to all the other commands I use when out walking so I think that's why it works well for us.

[rmci]

I don't see a problem with using stop to silence your dog, except that others in your house may try to use hush, shush, or quiet and they won't work.
I use shhhh for quietting the dogs and wait at the curb.

[LargeDogBreedz]

Use any command you want, as long as you use it consistent. Just make sure there is a strong connection between that particular word and the command.