Thread: The Barking!!!
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Old 03-03-2015, 05:44 PM   #7
yorkietalkjilly
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: D/FW, Texas
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I stopped Tibbe from indiscriminate barking by first teaching him to bark on command(easy peasy), with treats for rewards and then once he was doing that like a champ, one day when he stopped barking on his own, I immediately gave the "Quiet" command together with a hand cue slicing my hand across my throat and stuck a treat in his mouth. Next time he stopped barking on his own, I repeated that. Next time he stopped barking on his own, I did the same and so on and so on. After a while, I gave the "Quiet" command and hand gesture while he was barking and it surprised him and he stopped barking to look at me, knowing I had a treat. I raved "Good Quiet!", praised him and instantly stuck several treats in his mouth.

Next time he started barking again, I let him bark for 10 seconds or so, then gave the "Quiet" command and gesture right in his face so that he stopped again in shock and for the treat he was hoping to get. Immediately praise/serial treating with a huge smile on my face. Repeated it many, many times, setting him up for success at first by having treats on hand and kind of getting over in his face when I gave the command and every time he stopped barking he got a smile, praise & big treats, an "uh oh", turning away from him and no treats when he didn't stop.

Before too long, in about a week, he basically understood that going "Quiet" was even more rewarding than barking and we kept the training up for a good two months, so that now he stops barking with just a look in his direction and he is always praised and treated when he stops barking(a natural instinct for a dog) on command.

Of course, he knows I don't usually mind his barking within reason and even encourage it when the doorbell rings or he hears an unusual sound, especially at night. But he now polices himself and only barks about 10 seconds and only longer if he's very concerned - though usually his barks will turn into low, serious growls if he's really concerned there is someone or something close to the house. Still, even barking at the top of his lungs and in full force, he will stop with my serious look in his direction or with my command if he's in the other room, knowing that is what pleases me because he's now trained that that is the best thing for him to do - gets him better gratification - instant smiles, praise and treats every time and everybody is happy.
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Jeanie and Tibbe
One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis
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