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Originally Posted by zaknnana  I am almost ashamed to even post this!! I have tried EVERYTHING with Lily to get her to stop her LOUD HIGH PITCHED HORRIBLE BARKING!! She will be 2 yrs old in March and she is so good about most things but the barking is something I just can't seem to get her to stop!! We have been to the Petsmart classes and I have tried water bottles, coins in a can, whistles, you name it I have tried it!! NOTHING helps!! She barks at the TV so bad that we can't watch it sometimes!! That sounds crazy to have a 3# dog in that much control but she just won't STOP!! I have bought the sonic things and used the rolled up newspaper, tried ignoring her, put her in the crate, treats?? It is embarrassing to say the least!! She gets on my nerves so I know she gets on other peoples nerves!! She has been spayed. I don't know what to do with her!! |
Actually it's easier to teach at home, because you don't have to worry about annoying others. Using different types of punishment each time is not a good way to teach them. The punishment needs to be slightly aversive. It's also good if the punishment is the same type of stimulus as their response. For example, a loud noise is similar to barking. That's why I like pennies in a can. I had to find a special tin can that was louder than the aluminum soda cans some people use. Those Christmas tins are thick enough they produce a fairly loud sound. You could also use air horn blowers. You want to find something that is more aversive to them then their barking. The trick is to make the noise after very bark, and don’t get angry or agitated, they can feel your nerves, so if you get angry or agitated they get even more agitated, and will bark longer. You have to make the noise after every bark, and most people let the dog make the final noise, and this is a huge mistake. The first few times you do this he may bark 50 or a 100 times, each time he's won in the past has reinforced him to bark longer. Truthfully, I think I'd find something that made a louder noise if he continued to bark after 10 times, and you don't want to be screaming and shouting "no" when you make the noise. You should say "No" calmly, and make the noise. He should look slightly startled, and you should repeat after every bark. It's harder to do pennies in a can in the store; I guess I feel too much like I'm bothering other people. The best way to train at home is to choose a night when you are not really into the TV program, and choose something that you know he'll bark at. Keep the aversive noisemaker close to you, so you are ready to make the noise when he barks. The first night will be the hardest. I don't use the can when the doorbell rings, or when Joey actually has something to bark at, only at frivolous barks, such as someone walking in the park outside our window. By the way, I found a video of how to make a homemade air blower out of a film can, balloon, and straw.