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Originally Posted by alaskayorkie  That advice is what works best for us too! I started by ringing the doorbell, a sure way to get him barking. When he barked, I said "speak," gave him a hand command (opening my fingers like a mouth) and rewarded. He learned it real fast. Then I closed my fingers and said "No bark" and treated him when he didn't. Eventually, I could say "no bark," ring the doorbell and he wouldn't bark.
It's not perfect. Lately, he barks relentlessly when we approach our meet up ballpark. Since I'm driving, I can't always give the hand command and reward him. We're working on it. But I was delighted just now when I heard some barking outside. I raced to correct Eddie, and he wasn't barking. The neighbor dogs were barking at him and he was just watching them. He always used to join the bark party before we worked on no bark. |
Oh, Tibbe isn't perfect either when he sees a squirrel or the neighbor's cat out in the back yard or someone is at the door. He's still a dog and has a little mind of his own which I gladly indulge when he's doing dog duty and barking at things dogs bark at. But if he keeps on too long, he will quieten on command. You know he's better about quietening down instantly when I just give him "the look" and point at him than if I say anything. I wonder why that is? Funny little guy.