Barking! HELP!!!
 

Lately Bentley has gotten much worse about barking at everything. When someone comes to our door he goes off. He just loses it. He would never attack anyone or anything but he barks non stop and rushes the door. To talk to anyone I have to coax him out in the backyard or I have to squeeze through the front door and not invite them in. I'm not sure what's going on. He has also gotten worse about other dogs. We can no longer go to the dog park bc he will run at them and bark and not stop. Just stands there and barks about 2 ft in front of the dog. Walks are even hard bc if he sees a dog he barks and barks. Even when they are no longer visable. I have tried walking the other way, distracting him, watch me...and one trainer suggested the water bottle method. Which only seemed to make him wet and made me feel terrible. Nothing seems to work. I'm at my wits end. It drives me crazy. I want him to enjoy his walks and time outside but he just seems on alert the whole time. The slightest noise at night and he starts barking. Any suggestions? We need help! Should we just go ahead and accept that he will always do this and may just never be very people friendly. Don't get me wrong...he loves us dearly and cuddles and everything. But new people stress him out. Since he was 12 weeks he was introduced to new people and dogs all the time. This is a recent thing as he has gotten a bit older.

I don't really have advice to give but I did want to say your not alone! Roscoe is going to be one in Febuary and he has also been very socialized as well. A few days ago when we went to pets mart he went nuts barking at everyone from people to dogs. He was so loud and disturbing that my husband had to take him to the car. I also dont want it to be like this forever because i want him to be able to enjoy his outings and not go bark crazy.

ENOUGH BARKING !
Hey someone is walking down the street, bark, bark, bark. I am bored bark, bark, bark, whine, bark. I see a bird on the fence, woof, woof, bark, bark, bark. I want to play, whine, squeak toy, yelp, whine, bark, bark, bark. I want a snack, bark, bark, bark, paw at the bowl, whine, bark, bark, bark. Hey I want in the bathroom with you, scratch, whine, bark, yelp, yelp, yelp. The mail came, bark, growl, jump at the window, yap, yap, yap. I want to go out and play, bark, bark, bark, see me dancing by the door, yip, yip, yip. Some one might knock ENOUHG BARKING ! By Teresa Ford

on the door, woof, yes here they come, bark, bark, jump, spin, bark, bark, growl, yelp, yip, yap, bark, bark, bark.

Running shaking hands through your hair, you whimper, “Please, Oh God, please just stop barking for awhile. Enough is enough. I mean it, be quiet. That was our neighbor at the door, you keep waking her baby, and you are driving me crazy, so just shut up ! Or no new toys for a week !” Your Yorkie bounces at your feet his little tail going and barks, Want to play ? Bark, bark, bark……. You can change this. You will need patience, consistent repetition, a spray bottle of plain water, tiny rice sized treats.

How to TEACH QUIET

Unwanted barking. Is 99% your fault. Are you thinking, Oh great, blame the parents every time.? Sorry tough love and honesty made me say it.

Training your puppy to be Quiet, is better than correcting your dog after there is a pattern of problem barking.
1. Three Alert Barks are allowed. Say Good BARK. This lets them know they have done their job. You will take care of it from there. Then, Say your cue word for them to stop, always use the same word. We say 'ENOUGH' and when they are quiet, say Good Quiet.
2. Start by teaching your dog these three words Bark, Enough, and Quiet. When you are doing regular things together like, playing ball, when feeding etc. When the dog barks say ’Bark’ this puts a name on the behavior. (or Speak, Talk what ever seems natural to you) Allow three barks. Cue with ’Enough’, I automatically make a slicing motion when I say Enough. I don’t teach this as a hand signal but, people have pointed out I do it every time. So maybe it is a verbal and visual cue for the dog. When your dog gets quiet, Say Good Quiet and reward *.

If they keep barking cue with 'Enough' wait a few seconds, it takes about 5 seconds for them to understand and do what you ask. Then spray with short swift blast of water. The water is just to break that barking trance. Do not drench your dog. Redirect them if they are fixated on something. As soon as they are quiet, praise with ‘Good Quiet’.


3. You can teach your dog bark on cue. .When they Alert Bark we simply say ’Bark, bark, bark. It only take a few days for a puppy to understand that they can start and stop barking. Barking is something they do and it doesn’t just happen. Like potty training, self control is taught concerning barking too. After a few days of hearing Bark, Enough, and Quiet. Your dog is ready to learn to bark on cue. Just before you feed your dog or give a very tasty treat, cue him with ‘Bark’ it may take a few minuets of dancing and spinning but, he will bark. Praise with Good Bark and reward with the food or treat

See more training hints in the General Training section. you will see the compleat Lessson called ENOUGH BARKING

I'm hoping Calleigh's barking problem will be temporary. We have moved. It all started when people were coming to see our house when it was for sale. Now, we are waiting for our condo here in CA. We are staying with my daugher and 4 dogs. It is like a bark fest here most of the time. Calleigh joins right in every time one of them barks. Her barking is so much worse now. I'm hoping once we are in our own home, she will do much better. Her barking is really getting to me. I don't mind the other dogs barking as much as I do her, for joining in. I hope you have good luck with your pup and find something that will work for you.

I feel your pain!!!
 

Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I had Tobey since 7 weeks (too young I know) and now he is almost 5. I did all the training/socializing by the book and overall he is really well behaved, but a few months back I started working 6 days a week- my parents took him for a month but I missed him so much I got him back. I know he is barking more out of boredom so I am doing my best to engage/walk/play etc. At one point I stupidly thought he really understood "no bark" as a command. I have tried spray bottles, shaking coins in cans, etc. it all helps curb it some but lately he has been driving me SOOOOOO CRAZY!!!!!:mad: I was so fed up today I actually went and looked at bark collars even though I don't want to resort to that. Plus they are so expensive. So I am going to work on the training she suggested, he was taught "Quiet" at one point but I think he might need a refresher course:rolleyes:

I think the most annoying part is that I work 1-9 so he usually wakes me up too early barking at something out the window. if I close the blinds, he figures out how to stick his nose and still see out, and if I blocked all windows, he would still bark just from hearing noises in the building or outside. the reason the collar idea entered my head is because the most bothersome barking is in the morning when I need to still be sleeping. I have a pretty small apartment so I end up screaming "NO BARK" from my bed which does no good. I usually have to just get up, grab him, take him back to bed with me, but after all that, I can't usually fall back to sleep. I love him to death but I am so thin on my patience with him right now regarding the barking.

Teresa hopefuly you see my question. How does it work if you are not near the dog when he barks. I have been working with Lola who really does not bark much, but normally she is not near me when it happens and we she sees me coming she goes running, which of course is another training issue. After two months of consistinaly working on staying, she gets antsy and playful and jumps up and twirls and moves, if she is running wit something she should not have it takes me about 5 or six times of yelling down, half the time when I reach her and the object she is back up in a second and running. to me correcting bad behavior is hard when they are not next to you, on a leash suggestions would be great.