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!!!

He sounds like a wonderful puppy, aren't they the best?

Yes, the very best. Just need help with these few issues!

Little Barker, attention barking is common. When your pup barks, he is getting attention, so it is working for him. You need to teach him Quiet is really good too. When you are just hanging out and he is quiet, Say the cue words 'Good Quiet' and pet and treat him. You need to break training into one step at a time. Your puppy is very young. Right now just work on teaching Sit and Quiet. When he seem to get it (usualy a few days) add more training cue words. Hope this helps, Teresa

Thanx I'll work on "good quiet". He def knows commands. He knows, sit, lay down, stay, spin right, gimmie kisses, potty, pick up, etc. He knows hand signals for the first three also and will either do them w/ just the words or just the signals. So he is smart and knows how to learn well.

What should I do when he barks at my bf for attention?

Learning "no" might help, too. Since he is good for you the issue seems to be company. You might ask you boyfriend or whoever comes to say, "No!" or "No bark!" in a stern voice when he starts barking and then ignore him. Responding with play to the bark will only encourage more barking. Once he settles down then reward him with some play.

I have had to teach visitors to my home to do much the same with Gracie. While she knows how to behave with me she gets rather pushy when company comes. While I can tell her no she will continue to pester until the object of her affections tells her no. Of course they don't want to do that because she is little and cute but she needs to follow the rules with everyone.