How do you get a persistently barking dog to stop barking so much?

1. 92

   Helena Rickettsposted 11 years ago

   How do you get a persistently barking dog to stop barking so much?
   
   He bards at everything.  A leaf could blow across the driveway and he'd bark at it.  When I tell him to knock it off, he stops for a minute then goes right back to it.

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2. 68

   ImaSurvivor74posted 11 years ago

   I wish I knew! Honestly, I think the breed plays a huge role. I have a rescued Catahoula Leopard Dog who is CONSTANTLY barking or 'talking'. Come to find out...it is totally a trait of her breed. I've even tried bark collars, nothing works. I really just thing some dogs are going to bark no matter how many things we try. Let me know if you come up with something successful.

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   1. 92

      Helena Rickettsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hadn't considered the breed info.  My guy is Red Tick Hound, also called an English Coonhound.  I'll have to look that up and see what it says.  He does that talking thing too.  I admit I find that part amusing.

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3. 81

   Becky Katzposted 11 years ago

   We used to shake an open paper bag at our German Shepherd, while telling her to be quiet now. She eventually quit the constant barking. Our dog now will hang on the chair looking out the window and bark at trucks and people walking by. My husband will tell him to stop and he ignores him. I tell him enough and he stops. I think the difference is that I will smack him on the bottom if he doesn't quit and my husband won't. Perswistance and discipline are as important in training your dog as in teaching your child to behave. The dogs usually have the attention span and intelligence of a child under 5.

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   1. 92

      Helena Rickettsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is SO true about the attention span!  I'm going to try the bag rattle.  That might freak him out enough to stop barking, thanks for telling me that!

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4. 61

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years ago

   It depends on why your dog is barking. It would be irresponsible to formulate a diagnosis or recommendations without more information. However, the first thing I would recommend is a visit to the veterinarian to rule out any medical problems. Then consult a knowledgeable, reward-based trainer, preferably a clicker trainer or a certified applied animal behaviorist or board-certified veterinary behaviorist to help you formulate a behavior modification plan. The plan will require a through assessment of the reasons for your dog's barking, the triggers, etc. I can tell you this, telling your dog to "knock it off" will not work, as you have discovered. Most behavior modification plans I write include a plan for sufficient exercise and mental stimulation, so if you are not providing adequate amounts of physical and mental exercise, make plans to do so, through reward-based training, daily walks, interactive dog toys and various outings.

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5. 60

   veganpizzaplaceposted 10 years ago

   You may want to consider trying out a bark collar. Many dog lovers -- especially from the "positive reinforcement" school -- argue against using them, but there are so many good reviews about their effectiveness that you should really consider it.
   
   The shock collars get the most flak, but many dog owners have even tried it on themselves and find that it is like a static electricity shock (at the lower levels). You can find those videos on YouTube (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q … view_count)
   
   But there are other bark collars that use vibrations or citronella spray instead. Many people prefer to use these on their dogs.
   
   You can check http://topbarkcollarreviews.com/ to compare the different types of bark collars and see if you want to try any of them out.

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