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Training a Dog to Stop Barking

Catherine Forman
May 12, 2006

Dealing With Loud Barking - barking dogA member of the ThriftyFun community asked for help on a barking problem:

Any tips on a loud barking Yorkie? Oso is so adorable, loving, and sweet but late nights he goes out to pee and then barks at the top of his lungs. I am afraid he will wake next door neighbors as it is pretty late when we go to bed. Also if he is alone in a room, my husband in bed and me in our office room, he will go sleep in the living room then wake to bark loudly, scaring me. He just got 'fixed', he did not spend the night at the vets. He loves to board with his Cookie/Jack Russell, so what's up with the bark?
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There are a few things to consider here: Why is Oso (or any dog with a barking problem) barking? Is it something he sees, like a stray cat? Is it something he hears, like another dog?

Our neighbors across the street have a dog named Skittles. Skittles used to bark nonstop whenever he was outside. Day or night, it didn't matter. Skittles barked all the time. Our neighbors got a new fence, they switched from chain link to a wooden privacy fence, and all of a sudden Skittles stopped barking! He must have been barking at things he could see. When there was nothing to see, there was nothing to bark at.

My dogs will go nuts at certain things they hear. For some reason, the sound of motorcycles drives them bonkers, and they both race to the nearest window to bark. During the summer, when the air conditioners are humming and the sounds from outside are muffled, they bark a lot less.

I'm going to suggest two things for you to try:

Barking is often caused by boredom or attention seeking (and the two go hand in hand). If Oso feels like he has been left outside too long, he may start barking to get your attention. It sure does get your attention, right? If you go out with him and try to hurry that last piddle break along, you may be able to get him back inside before the barking ever begins.

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April 6, 2011

I have a Welsh Corgi mix that barks at everything! When we first got her at 4 months she was very quiet, now she won't stop. It is getting to the point that my husband has told me give her away or take her to the pound. Does any body have any suggestions how to stop it? I have tried numerous things; one more won't hurt. She is very sweet and fun. I hate to give her away.

By alicia from Johnson city, TN

Answers

April 7, 20110 found this helpful

You could get a bark collar. When used properly they will spray a bit of citronella into their face with every bark.

Another choice is a shock collar. You will have the remote, and when you push the button, they get a mild little zap. So if you say "quiet" and she barks, you zap her exactly that second that she barks.

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A spray bottle. Again, if you say no and she barks, she gets a spray of water in the face.

Do those sound cruel? Sure beats having to re-home your dog, and with the exception of the bark collar she will soon learn to stop when you say so if used properly. When we moved to an acreage my dogs were well behaved most of the time but soon figured out they could run off if they choose, which turned out to be once a month or so. As we are near a highway that was just unacceptable.

Having a shock collar has made it so I can have them off leash with me instead of tying them up all the time, and once they were trained we only get it out once in a blue moon to remind them if needed. Made a big difference for the better in our life.

 
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May 21, 2009

We have had a puppy for less than 48 hours and we can't get her to stop barking when left alone. Her crate is in the front room and when she is left she just barks the house down. We need help as were unable to sleep due to her barking. She was abandoned and found by the RSPCA and now we have her. She is 11 weeks old. Please help.

By JAMES from Christchurch, New Zealand

Answers

May 21, 20090 found this helpful

When we brought home our last dog at 6 weeks she cried at night when we put her in her kennel. I bought a sound machine with a heartbeat and placed it outside her kennel so she could not reach it. I found mine at Walmart but you might be able to find one at a Dollar General or Freds. I turned the volume up a bit to try to duplicate her mother's heartbeat.

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She adjusted rather quickly and she started sleeping (and so did we). After a few weeks I started lowering the volume a little each week to wean her off the sound and she continued sleeping peacefully. Hope this helps. Post a picture of your little fur ball as I always enjoy seeing all the pets.

 
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April 6, 2005

Our 18 month old boston terrier has started barking at any noise in or outside the house. It is an awful bark that makes you jump out of your skin. Is there a way to stop him from this behavior?



Susan

Answers

By Shirley (Guest Post)
April 6, 20050 found this helpful

There are many bark control products on the market. DrsFostersmith.com is a good place to view many options. I have, personally, used Lentek's Bark Free with great success with my pomeranian, indoors.

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Have not tried it for outdoors, but it is for indoor/outdoor use. It helps prevent annoying barking, is completely controllable by your preferences and in no way harmful to your pet. Good luck to you.

 
By (Guest Post)
April 6, 20050 found this helpful

We set out last month to "debark" our pomeranian.

First, the most important thing is that you _want_ your dog to bark at strangers or if he/she wants to be let out, so make sure you go investigate whatever it is that he's barking at, at least initially.

Then, if our dog continued to bark after that, we told her "hush". After the second hush, we picked her up and held her over our head (which she hates) for about 15 seconds. After about five repetitions of this (over a couple of days) she now knows that if we say "hush" and point at her, she darn well better shut up! It's actually worked pretty well.

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You could also pick the dog up and hold it like a baby, or bathe it, or anything else sufficiently obnoxious but not harmful to the animal.

 

Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks
April 6, 20050 found this helpful

Some dogs just like to bark but most likely she's trying to tell you that something is wrong. I found with my Maltese who also liked to bark that if I told her "It's okay, thanks!" that she would stop. Like the Guest says, if you can find some way to let them know that it is Enough, you see what they are barking about, it will help. As little as they are, they feel they are your protector.
Susan from ThriftyFun

 
April 6, 20050 found this helpful

I read on a dog training site that if you take a used pop can and put a few pennies in it and tape it up totally and when they start to bark for no reason,you shake it by their head.My daughter used it for her two Llaso Apsos and it seemed to work. Especially for breeds of dogs that like to bark alot,it can eliminate some stress for you .Give it a try.Hope it works.

 
By Barbie (Guest Post)
April 6, 20050 found this helpful

We have labs and usually we can get them to hush by saying enough now it's ok....but when we first got our choc lab she barked at everything so we resorted to using a spray bottle.....we placed it on stream and when she barked excessively we would spray her with it and say no....eventually she learned to associate the two and now when ever she starts a behavior we don't approve of we simple set the spray bottle out and just saying no and showing her the bottle stops it.....

 
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August 16, 2008

My chi pin barks at everyone. How do I curb her barking? She is 8 months old. Thanks.

Orab from Hollywood, FL

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August 31, 2002

Could anyone lend me some advice on how to tone down my barking dog. She barks when she sees people or when she's nervous. I haven't had alot of luck training her. Please Help..I think my neighbors are starting to get annoyed.



- Michelle

Answers

September 8, 20020 found this helpful

Go to your public library and look for dog training books and videos. Also go to message boards at dog sites such as allpets.com (their message board is called "community"). There are some dog breeds who are known to be barkers and people should do alot of research so that they do not end up with a dog who has characteristics that they do not want.

 
September 9, 20020 found this helpful

Walmart sells bark control collars. One makes a high pitched noise when the dog barks and the other emits a mild static shock. My friend has used the one that makes the noise and she has had really good results with it. The one that emits the shock probably works better but it seems a little inhumane.

 
September 10, 20020 found this helpful

I have a cocker spaniel with a big mouth also. Barks at anything that moves. I bought the barker which emits a mild static shock each time he barks, and believe me it works. It may be a bit inhumane, but he only got a shock twice. After that, as soon as he sees me approach with the collar, that's the end of the barking for a while.

 
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June 18, 2009

How do you break a dog of barking? He is well mannered and has been easy to train and minds well except for the barking?

Please help.

By Sonja Smith from Hemphill, TX

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October 26, 2012

Part Pit with owner.We have a new rescue dog (part Pit Bull) who is the sweetest ever. He has to stay in a kennel in the house temporarily due to a respiratory infection and he barks all the time to get out. I feel bad for him, but I can't let him out with the other dogs yet. I can't seem to find a method to get him to quit barking and wining. Help!

By Pam B.

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September 3, 2011

How can I stop my dog from barking at everybody?

By Afrasiab

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November 12, 2008

Help me with my pom! I recently adopted a dog from a local no-kill animal shelter. I love him, but he is driving me crazy. At the top of the list is his barking. He barks at whoever comes through the front door and won't stop when I tell him too. He barks at cars driving by and at people when I take him with me in the car.



Troy from Ely, NV

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