 barking at others
So my puppy is pretty calm and mellow with me and hardly ever barks unless we are playing and he is chasing or wanting a toy in my hand. He's 21 weeks only btw.
When I have company he has become a little barky for attention or will bring a toy to them and then bark. He will just stand below my bf and bark for no reason! I think it's an attention thing plus he thinks they are his buddies that have came to see him. He knows I'm the boss and doesn't pull that with me.
I read the sticky about enough barking, but wondering how people would go about stopping this. It says do not reward unwanted barking, but that's all he does. He doesn't alert bark at things outside. I have few opportunities to teach him what "bark" is because he doesn't bark when we are alone. The rare times he does bark, I say bark.
When my bf is here and he barks should I say bark until he learns the word? Or should I shake a can and just say enough or quiet? Then say good quiet and reward when he stops? Although it said again don't reward unwanted barking.
Guess I'm just confused. We have tried to ignore him and direct our attention the other way, say no bark, crate him for a bit until he can come out and stay quiet.
I think this is the only behavioral problem I'm having besides I need to teach him to not run to the door when people knock or stay back when I need to open it or go out. I fear he will get out so he is always held or crated in these instances.
On the positive, he is pretty much potty trained. No accidents for weeks and I can put him down off my bed in the morning, he will run out to the front room to pee/poop on potty pad then come back to the bedroom and let me pick him back up into bed!!! |