I don't know, Stephanie. Muffin loved to bark, but that was only when she saw things outdoors. They say that even negative attention to them is better than no attention. I certainly am not the one to ask. I never did attempt to quiet Muffin. She was having fun, but she didn't overdo it - at least, IMO. :p Kacee only barks once in a great while and that is usually at me. She will stare at me and if I ignore her, she will bark to get my attention. I probably won't know until she gets a little older to really know if she's going to be a barker.

Ok im having this problem too! I usually give her a bone or something to distract her....I know not a good idea b/c I'm giving into her behavior. I am so sick of the barking as well! I've tried rolling up paper or a magazine and swatting it down really loud and saying "NO BARK!" and it works but then she'll continue barking soon after again....Grrrr! I dont want to use the spray bottle thing, I dont want her to get all wet. :confused:

Yeah I agree a little more family attention is a good idea! But if that doesn't work in the end, I have seen, but don't know how effective they are, those citrinella spray collars, that when the dogs bark their collar sprays out a little squirt of citrinella spray in front of them. I guess dogs don't like the smell of it and they are supposed to learn that when they bark an unpleasant thing happens. But like I have said, I have not tried it or don't know really how well it works. But it was just an idea!

When Rowdy was about 4 months old (he's 6 months now), he started barking like crazy at us - he'd just bark and bark and bark and woudn't stop. It was driving us crazy!!! I would say "NO" in a very loud and stern voice, but he would just bark back at me everytime I said no - it sounded like a little kid backtalking, I guess it kinda was. I thought about what his mother (dog) might do if he were misbehaving and I decided to pick him up gently by the back of his harness and shake him GENTLY, but quickly enough to startle him (kinda like a mother dog would do - pick the pup up by the scruff of the neck). While I gently shook him, I said "NO BARK" in a very stern, but not necessarily loud voice. It only took shakes on 3 separate occasions and he stopped barking at us. Every time I would do it, he ran and got on my husband's lap and looked back at me with an expression of, "She is crazy so I better stay right here". My husband didn't baby him, but he did let him stay in his lap so he felt safe. Now, I let him bark at noises he hears outside because I do want him to let me know if something is amiss outside, but after a few barks, all I have to do is say "NO BARK" and he will stop. He will let us know if he needs something with a very soft "ruff" and I let him do that too - I dont' want him to think he can't bark at all - after all he is a dog :eek: OH NO! I didn't say D O G, did I??? :D

Ponyup...I just had to tell you, everytime I see one of your posts I just think your little Logan is the cutest thing ever!!!!

Thank you.

Starsky does this for attention, especially when I am eating. The squirt bottle works with a loud no reprimand! Now I just have to show him the squirt bottle. The only problem is I don't always have a squirt bottle around. I guess I need to buy one for all the rooms he is allowed in.

I used to have a problem with Maddie barking a lot...and demanding! I finally tried the coins in a can thing and it worked! Now all I usually have to say is, "Should I get the can?" She will look at me as if to say..."Pleeeeze NO!" She really cowards when I get the can in my hand and I hate that because I've never hurt her and she acts as if I'm going to kill her with that can! I don't have to use it much, thank goodness, because I always feel bad when I do because of how scared she gets. There's times when I let her bark and sometimes if she barks because she wants to play, I just get down and play with her. I love it when she barks quietly and then makes these funny sounds as if she's talking to me. Anyway...try the can...it works!!!

Ever since we got the first dog, we have been doing this:
As soon as one start barking, we say "no" and "quiet". You have to be persistant and do it every time and as soon as they start barking.
This has meant that Kali hardly ever bark and if she does I can tell her "quiet" and she will stop and just growl instead.
The little one is a tougher banana, so now I do this: Every time she barks, I say "no" and "quiet" and go pick her up and hold my hand loosely around her mouth while I say "no".
This helps, but wether she will ever learn not to go off like a lunatic at the postman I don't know - her brain might be too small... :p

I have a barking problem with miko also, he only barks at people outiside and actually, anyone that he doesn't know. he also barks at other dogs, the dog whisperer says you have to confront there anxiety. They bark because they
are scared half of the time. I also live in an apartment and sometimes, if someone comes up as I am walking him, he'll bark and kids are sometimes scared of him! my little Miko , 4lbs! I have to tell them no he's barking because he's scared, but I get so embarrassed. I do reprimand him and pick him up and hold his nozzle and he will eventually stop. Help where's the dog whisperer?

That isn't always the cause. I have 2. I got Chloe when Baxter was 1 1/2. NEITHER of my dogs bark very often. And Baxter gets as jealous as ANY dog I've ever seen.