Barking!!

[KittyGurl]

When your dog starts to bark, say "No" or "Stop barking" or something close to that. If they obey then give her a treat or some praise. If she disobeys, tell her again and again until she stops. Still give her praise and a treat. Good luck

[VTJess03]

I remember reading somewhere (maybe on PT, maybe not), that it is difficult to teach a "quiet" command, since it's hard to anticipate the barking...as with other issues that you're trying to train away bad behavior, you have to catch them in the act and immediately correct it. With barking, a "no" or "quiet" usually follows the actual action of barking, so it's harder for the dog to associate the command with the appropriate behavior.

The suggestion that was made whenever I read up on this issue last was to first teach a "speak" command, which then allows the dog to associate barking with a command, and then to add a "no speak" command.

I know that Belle seems to put little to no thought into what she barks at; it is purely reactive to whatever she sees. She does not stop to think about what she's doing. I have had limited success with making her stop and come lie down, but it still does not stop the initial barking at whatever she hears or sees outside. I have been trying to work on this myself, but it's difficult for me to be consistent in training, since I have to leave her alone while I'm at work. I will say that I never try to correct her barking while she's outside in her 'play pen' (kennel). It is a behavior I only want to control when she's in the house.

[scoutiegirl]

We have done this with two dogs, and it's worked both times. We teach the dog to speak, and once they begin to bark, we teach them "no bark." Learning the speak command has been helpful in housetraining as well. If nobody's at the "out" door when they're there to go out, they know to speak to alert someone.

[frawri]

Has anyone tried this citronella anti bark collar I have heard? Is that stuff ok for the dog? I know of a friend who used it, and she said it worked with in the first day. But is it really safe for the dogs?

[crow_noir]

The problem with those is that they are still giving the correction long after the dog has barked.

The success rate with them is low. Granted, they do work on some dogs.

As far as the safety goes, it all depends on the individual's tolerance to citronella.

Has anyone tried this citronella anti bark collar I have heard? Is that stuff ok for the dog? I know of a friend who used it, and she said it worked with in the first day. But is it really safe for the dogs?

[BC_MoM]

We have done this with two dogs, and it's worked both times. We teach the dog to speak, and once they begin to bark, we teach them "no bark." Learning the speak command has been helpful in housetraining as well. If nobody's at the "out" door when they're there to go out, they know to speak to alert someone.

I have a Border Collie who has yet to learn to speak. It was very easy to teach my first BC, but I'm having huge difficulties with this one... any suggestions?