Territorial Barking.
Recognize the triggers to control problem barking. Control
watchdog barking by teaching your dog to respond to a hand
signal or verbal cue for Quiet. Ex; when the doorbell rings,
- Allow your dog to bark three times before you praise and
acknowledge her by say, "OK, good dog!"
- Then say "Quiet" and interrupt the barking by holding a
tasty treat under her nose. Hold the treat in your closed
fist ....holding up your fist can eventually become the hand
signal for Quiet.
- When she has been quiet for several seconds, give her the
treat.
Repeat this routine until all you have to say is your cue word as
you hold up your closed fist, to get a quiet response. Continue to
randomly reward her good responses with praise and an
occasional treat.
Barking for Attention
If your dog demands attention by barking,
- Consistently turn your back and withdraw eye contact the
second the barking starts. This teaches her that her
nuisance barking makes a good thing......your attention ...go
away.
- After she winds down, teacher her that being quiet is the
better strategy by rewarding her good behavior with praise
and treat.
- Gradually extend the time she has to be quiet before
rewarding her.
Boredom Barking.
Exclusion from the family and too much time alone.....especially
outdoors...can lead to excessive barking.
- If you think your dog may be bored or anxious, provide
more companionship, exercise, walks , toys and play training
sessions.
Problem barking is not an easy fix, but with consistency and
patience, you can get some of your dogs barking under control.
When you do, it is important to randomly reward her with attention
and treats for being quiet so she doesn't return to her old
behaviors.
Demand Barking
Demand barking may be encountered in the early stages of
positive training. He will figure out how to make treats, play, and
attention happen. It often starts as a low grumble or soft "whuff",
and if not nipped in the bud can turn into a full-scale, insistent,
persistent bark.
- Demand barking is fixed by ignoring the dog.
- Demand barking for you to throw his ball, simply turn your
back on him until he is quiet, then say "Yes" and return
your attention to him.
- His goal is to get you to give him good stuff.
- Your goal is to teach him that barking makes good stuff go
away.
- At first, you'll need to say "Yes"! after just a few seconds of
quiet, but fairly quickly extend the period of quiet so he
doesn't learn a behavior chain of "Bark, he be quiet for a
second, get's attention.
- At the same time, you'll need to reinforce quiet when he
doesn't bark first, again, to prevent the behavior chain.
- Remember, any attention you give him reinforces demand
barking. Eye contact, physical contact, verbal
admonishment...all of these give him what he wants:
attention!
|
