What is the best way to teach your puppy NOT to bark?

Question

Hi!
I have a 3 month old Lab puppy who sometimes barks alot - even if we have just played or taken her out for a good walk. It's not like we arent doing something about it. Any suggestions on how to stop her from barking without any reason?
Thanks!

PS. I really dont like Anti-Bark collars, so please dont suggest that ^_^

Answer 1

Sorry but dogs bark. That is what they do. I have 2 Yellow labs and they bark if some one or something is in our yard. I would rather they do that then not make any noise and let some one come into your home. Never yell or strike them. Yelling shows them that it is O.K. to be loud. Hitting them is just wrong!

Answer 2

I agree, I don't like anti-bark collars either. Here is an excerpt from my book: The Koehler Method of Dog Fighting, By William Koehler

P. 187, Barking, Whining, Howling, Yodeling, Screaming, and Wailing
Dogs are known to emit all of the above sounds in many different keys. Unlike the chewing problem, where a loss is no concern of the neighbors, the neighbors take a heated interest in the vocal efforts of a noisy dog. Eventually, so will the law, wwhich generally gives a choice of the four procedures: quiet the dog, keep in him in a soundproof area, get rid of him, or move. Tie a string to your dogs collar, so you can easily get him if he runs under the bed or in a frantic chase around the house. When he bark, smack him (be assertive, not gentle and caring with a smack) on the muzzle just above his nose. Then leave him be and walk away where your fading footsteps makes him think you are gone. Listen and if he barks again, and when he does, yell out at the first sound so he knows he did wrong. Then go back to him, smack him on the muzzle, get the string and get him outside. Leave him out for a while, ignoring his requests for attention. Eventually let him back in, and do the same procedure. If this fails to work, seek a professional trainer or as last resort get an anti-bark collar.

Answer 3

Hi!
# months is a bit young to teach her usually Puppies aren't really ready until 6mths. However I saw this on a dog bad behaviour show. The dog was way out of control so the trainer. did this
1/ told dog to sit.
2/ waved, flicked her hand towards her said speak, speak ,speak, to dog... the dog barked barked barked..
3/ she then did stop with her hand .. the dog stopped, she immediately praised it and gave it a chicken treat.
4/ she repeated this and each time it barked and stopped on command. It was praised and rewarded.
This is not fixed in 1 day it takes effort but actually your dog is smart but I don't think it's quite ready for that.
When it barks at this point just either take it out of the room straight away, and leave it there about 5mins. Then bring it back. do it again and again everytime it barks. Don't say anything just do it.It does it because you give it all the attention it wants ,being told off is better than nothing, so infuture remove it from your company it's like time out. It'll realize it's not working for it very quickly.

Answer 4

A Squirt bottle(filled with plain water) used in tandem with a command such as "Quiet!" usually works quite well. I have a dog who is part Labrador and she loves barking, she barks for fun, barks when shes excited, barks for no reason at all that I can find, she used to bark every time I let her outside etc. All I did was every time she barked without reason or excessively.. I would squirt her and say Quiet!, with one finger raised to my lips too as a hand signal, when she was quiet I would reward her with praise. If the squirt bottle doesnt work then you either hold her muzzle shut while repeating Quiet! (and the handsignal) and do it every single time she barks, and reward after she is quiet. If the dog refuses to stop barking you have to act really mad, stiff posture, stare into their eyes and roll them over on to their back and say Quiet!! in a hugely commanding voice. Pretty soon they will take your commands seriously because they know you will folow through.. Now if my dog is barking in the yard I simply knock on the window to get her attention and use the handsignal, she knows if she doesnt obey I will come out there and make her lol, but if she does obey she gets treats and praise.
It works really well for all kinds of situations becuase my dog loves to bark... I also taught her to Speak so that she can satisfy her urge to bark, becuase she seems to enjoy it so much. Now she will start and stop on command and I can control her barking, I find this is a necessary thing to do if you have a dog who loves to bark because other people dont enjoy a dog barking all the time and frankly neither do I. Anyway if you are consistent with your command and handsignal the dog will learn both and you can ultimately control when and where your dog barks.

PS It is a good idea to praise her for barking when there is a reason such as someone in the yard or at the door.. in those cases you simply praise the dog for barking when it is necessary, but by teaching them a command to stop barking it gives you more control so if someone is at the door your dog barks and then you let the person in you can tell the dog to stop barking at that point with the Quiet command.

Answer 5

What we do to our puppy when she's too roudy is when she does something we don't like we yell "NO!" and give her a pop on the nose. It's worked so far.

Answer 6

You are supposed to not look at them or pay them any attention when they are barking. Eventually she'll stop.(I know, its hard!!) She just wants your attention!

Answer 7

Erm.
I like my puppy to bark.
He's protecting me.
:l
You shouldn't teach them not to bark.
But that's just my opinion.