yorkietalkjilly | 07-15-2011 07:38 PM | Oh, my goodness, Tibbe went throught this phase 5 or 6 months after I got him at age 9 mos. and he barked at everything! I was in the process of teaching him obedience as behavior modification so I added teaching him to bark on command. He loved it - learned it quickly and loved the treats he got for good barking. After 2 weeks of that, I taught him to stop barking on command and he loved that - learned it quickly and loved the treats he got for good stopping barking! Soon, I taught him to stop barking with just a pointed finger and now it's just a look. My little guy just does his trick of stopping on command and now no longer expects a treat - it's just learned behavior now. On the other hand, he's allowed appropriate disobedient barking - barking when he is alarmed due to an odd noise or the presence of a person on our property. He is rewarded with praise and an occasional treat for that type of barking and he knows the difference. Even if I give him the "no bark look" when barking, if he's hearing something inappropriate - out of the usual - he knows it is okay to keep barking and I encourage it. I want anyone approaching the house to hear him raising the roof. It is amazing how smart these little guys are with a little guidance and come to know what kind of barking is considered appropriate. Tibbe has turned out to be a nonbarker in the house unless there is something unusual going on and then he barks his little heart out with his mommie's total approval and hugs and treats in gratitude. Of course he is allowed to do normal dog barking - to bark at all squirrels, large bird, cats and other dogs and people he sees from the window even when he's in the house. |