Barking problems

aquarian215 · 08-30-2007, 08:05 AM

What is the best way to train a dog not to bark? Dudley only ever barks at us. Someone can come over and he won't bark, he can see another dog, and the dog will bark at him, but he never barks back, well rarely, he will bark at cats, but for the most part he barks at us. It started when we first got him and we were potty training him, he started barking at us when he had to go out, and then when we did something he didn't like, for example putting on our socks (he figured we were leaving), or dancing around with the baby (making lots of noise and movement), but sometimes he does it for no reason I can figure out. I have tried a squirt bottle, it worked at first but not anymore, we try ignoring him, but he gets worse for the most part, we have tried timeouts, anyone have any advice as to why he does this? And how to get him to stop?

Cherokee · 08-30-2007, 02:27 PM

He does it because he has trained you well from a young age. He would bark at you to get you to let him out, and you rewarded his behavior by letting him go outside. Suddenly he realized that if he barks at you, he'll get things he wants.

So begin by first and formost, never rewarding him with something he wants, when he's barking. Secondly you have to maintain that barking is not an acceptable behavior. This can be done in ways suchs as if you're playing with him and he starts to bark, immediately end the play session. Another is to reward good behavior (Being quiet) by taking him on an at least half an hour walk.

But for a little bit more of an immediate affect (Though this will take a little time no matter what you do), make some kind of, irriated sound anytime you give a verbal correction...something such as "Ahh", or "Shh". But make sure it's short, to the point, and not an actual word. When you give the correction make sure you take a step forward at him, in a calm, but dominant fashion. By doing this you better get his attention and you're using something a dog will better understand, which is body language.

Putting him in "Time out" won't really do anything, because correction has to be done the moment bad behavior happens. All the dog knows is suddenly he's stuck in his crate and not really sure why.

08-30-2007, 08:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
aquarian215 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 269 Rep Power: 38	Barking problems What is the best way to train a dog not to bark? Dudley only ever barks at us. Someone can come over and he won't bark, he can see another dog, and the dog will bark at him, but he never barks back, well rarely, he will bark at cats, but for the most part he barks at us. It started when we first got him and we were potty training him, he started barking at us when he had to go out, and then when we did something he didn't like, for example putting on our socks (he figured we were leaving), or dancing around with the baby (making lots of noise and movement), but sometimes he does it for no reason I can figure out. I have tried a squirt bottle, it worked at first but not anymore, we try ignoring him, but he gets worse for the most part, we have tried timeouts, anyone have any advice as to why he does this? And how to get him to stop?
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08-30-2007, 02:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cherokee Keiko Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 41 Rep Power: 29	He does it because he has trained you well from a young age. He would bark at you to get you to let him out, and you rewarded his behavior by letting him go outside. Suddenly he realized that if he barks at you, he'll get things he wants. So begin by first and formost, never rewarding him with something he wants, when he's barking. Secondly you have to maintain that barking is not an acceptable behavior. This can be done in ways suchs as if you're playing with him and he starts to bark, immediately end the play session. Another is to reward good behavior (Being quiet) by taking him on an at least half an hour walk. But for a little bit more of an immediate affect (Though this will take a little time no matter what you do), make some kind of, irriated sound anytime you give a verbal correction...something such as "Ahh", or "Shh". But make sure it's short, to the point, and not an actual word. When you give the correction make sure you take a step forward at him, in a calm, but dominant fashion. By doing this you better get his attention and you're using something a dog will better understand, which is body language. Putting him in "Time out" won't really do anything, because correction has to be done the moment bad behavior happens. All the dog knows is suddenly he's stuck in his crate and not really sure why.

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