Learn How to Stop Puppy Barking
"Stop Puppy Barking"
A Free Dog Training Tip From The "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer" Discussion Forum:
**Gordana Writes: Our puppy has practiced excessive puppy barking from the first day we got her. However, she does this only when confined. We got her Oct 15th, making her 8.5 weeks old. We have been doing the following: telling her no! and patiently waiting and not taking her out until she is quiet. We have had to step it up a bit. If, when we tell her no! she does not listen we will also give her a firm shake. She does respond better to the physical type of correction, but her improvement is very short term. What else can we try? We are starting week 4 with her and we want to prevent her from making this a permanent habit (if it hasn't already)!
**Another Dog Owner Shares Their Experience. Our puppies are about the same age. He is 10 weeks old and we have had him (Frost) for two weeks.
Now when he goes in his cage I tell him it is bed time, he curls up on his pillow before I even get the door closed for the night. We are working at being able to tell Frost that it is bedtime and have him go into his crate without the door. Frost is a Siberian Husky. At 10 weeks he can already stand on his hind legs and look at the counter. Considering how big he is going to be in a few months we felt that it was best to train him right away. We use as much positive re-inforcement as possible. He has to sit and be quite before he gets any food or water. When we go outside he has to sit before his leash goes on, he also has to sit quietly when we come in before I will take the leash off. I talk to Frost quite a bit through out the day... so instead of yelling, yanking or anything like that when he is being a brat, I will not say a word. Instead he is given the signal for sit, then I sit down in front of him about a minute. If he moves or tries to leave we have to sit a little longer. During this time I will not pet him or talk to him, just stare. It takes a bit of time to work up to the point where it only takes a minute to get your point across, but it does work. If Frost pushes his luck to the point of trying my patience, I will gently place my hand over the back of his neck, quickly rock him left, then right while making a short, deep growl that a mother dog would make. Then I take my hand away without petting him, stare at him for about 5 seconds, then walk away. I won't pay him any attention until he walks over to where I am and sits down beside me. Then I will pet him once and we go on with our day. I hope this helps. Liseehw P.S. The reason that I use the reverse psychology is because I am used to training standard size donkeys. Yep, donkeys. And... I am only 5 feet tall and not that big, so I have been using the brains over braun approach. Plus, Frost will be taller then me (on his hind legs) in about six months. **Gordana Replies: I still need help with the puppy barking!! Please read on...Thanks for your reply.... I need to hear that it did get better for you. We are on week 4 with her at our home and she is quite loud yet. In addition to her barking in her crate there are other incidents in which she is overly vocal. We have a baby gate leading upstairs and she will bark, yelp and howl when any family member goes upstairs. Today she was in the midst of eating her supper (and very focused on eating) when I went upstairs to sort laundry (hoping she would continue eating) but no, she immediately quit and ran over and remained at the stairs barking the entire time. She has climbed the gate to follow -- which is a no-no. If we tell her to sit and stay any time we go upstairs and she will sit and stay (for the most part) but she does bark frantically. From day 1 in addition to the puppy barking she would shake and tremble As of this week she no longer trembles in her kennel. But I would really ike to know how to stop that puppy barking! She is well aware of what the word no! means. She can sit and stay prior to feedings, walks, etc. She has proven easy to train in all other aspects even house training. But we simply can not break that bad barking habit. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ** DogProblems.com Dog Training Advisor Responds: Thank you for posting your puppy barking question in our Dog Training forum. You might not be displaying the body language to her that you mean business. One of the things I did to stop the puppy barking was first Pick a command better suited like, "Quiet". When you leave a room and she starts puppy barking, come back into the room imedately (by this time I am usually walking very heavily so my feet stomp a bit) get a "growly tone to your voice" and growel at her "QUIET"( usually I also have a "angry face"). If she is in her kennel do not open it, but instead bang on the top of the kennel with your flat handeven if she is in a wire crate the effect should be the same (not enough to create an earth quake for the dog inside) but enough that the banging should startle her into being quiet. The second she is "startled quiet" then open the crate door and slip her a treat while praising the quiet, give a quick pet to her, then close the door again and leave again. It may not stop with the first or second time you try this but keep trying and be consistant. (as I said I went through 12 weeks of flying back into the room like a mad woman growling at my pup "QUIET"). Another thing is when you do leave a room and she is seperated from you automatically think she is going to bark and hide closer out of sight "in waiting" to hear the barking so you can get to her quicker for a "startling" correction. It will get better you just have to show her that you mean business.
**Gordan Replies: Great advice--you've given me some good ideas I can incorporate into what I'm already doing. I have been making "umpteen" trips back and forth and banging on her crate, being angry,etc. It helps me tremendously that you mention it took your pup 12 weeks but at least you had had SUCCESS :) Thank you so much for sharing this with me! You have given me the strength to go on knowing that it will end. Today I went home at lunch and not only was she barking but thrashing in her kennel too. I eventually got her to stop by banging on her kennel and scolding her. I will definitely start using the word quiet! and practice a few "startling" corrections. The sooner she gives up this annoying puppy barking behaviour the better!!
** DogProblems.com Dog Training Advisor Responds: All puppies try this. And quite correct if you do not get it under control it could turn into something worse. My GSD's only too 1 or 2 times and they caught on quick, but as I said my boxer as a pup took much longer I never thought he would get it through his head. Also remember when they are quiet (in the begining) even for 1 or 2 seconds release the puppy loose and praise! Stop and listen outside the door also when you are leaving the house to work or run errands (I always had to allow for at least an extra 10 to 15 minutes to hide and listen and correct if needed)
Re-Read Signs You Might Have An Aggressive Puppy
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