What should I do with a barking puppy?

Question

My dog, an one and half year old chihuahua, keeps barking all the time when i'm not playing with him. What should I do?

Answer 1

Hi Em Y!
Yes, small pup chihuahua can be noisy and may require patience to housebreak.

Often, one method that helps alleviate barking is to give your dog specific permission to bark. Teach it to "speak" -- let it "speak" when appropriate (say, when you're playing in the park). Then "no speak" follows from that.

The following methods outline some other possibilities to address this problem. Training the dog to stop barking on command can be accomplished with lure-reward techniques, disruption techniques, or head halter and leash training. Training a dog to be quiet on command allows it to continue to bark at stimuli but stop at your request.

Rewards are then given for quiet behavior. At each subsequent training session the dog should remain quiet a little longer before the reward is given.

Teaching a dog to stop all barking in the presence of the stimulus is much more difficult. To be successful, barking must be interrupted immediately as it begins, and the process repeated until the dog does not bark at the stimulus (at which time it can be rewarded). Please look article: http://www.askedweb.com/askedweb/About_the_most_frequent_barking_problems/

Jason Homan

Answer 2

Well, he's not really a puppy at 1.5 yrs or I'd say ignore him so he doesn't get what he wants (dogs can be really good at training humans). He's learned that barking gets what he wants so now you have the unenviable task of breaking an established habit. Ignoring him now might work but it'll take forever. Yelling might also work but he'd have to be afraid of you. Most people don't like to have their dogs afraid of them and there are other ways.

One method that often works is to teach him to bark on command. Since you know when he's going to bark, this shouldn't be too hard. Once he barks reliably on command, you can then teach him to stop barking on command. I use "cease" but any word will do as long as that is the only word you use. If the barking is delayed even for a short time, praise or treat him. I don't like to do this (or any thing else training-wise) more then three repetitions. As he starts to catch on (it could take weeks), demand longer and longer silence for praise/treat. In the end, he may still bark for attention but will immediately stop when you give him the command.

Answer 3

You yelling or being upset will just add to the noise.
There are two things you can do. Take the snout and hold it shut and say NO Barking. Say it in a firm low confident voice.
Make eye contact. YOU need to be the alpha dog.

Another way is to get a spray bottle and squirt the dog in the face when he barks. This way is very effective. Make sure you are consistant. Have spray bottles all over the place so you can be consistant. I have seen this work quickly on dogs.

Remember eye contact and you stare until the dog looks away to establish you as the alpha dog. the leader, the boss.

Answer 4

Bad behaviour should never be rewarded and when your dog
barks you should just get up and walk away from the dog, go
to another room. Don't tell the dog no or say anything.
When the dog dosen't bark he should be rewarded. Try
keeping some treats in your livingroom in a bowl and let the
dog know where they are. Hold when up when your dog barks
and only give it to him, when he stops barking and praise him
alot. Even if the dog only stops barking for a few secounds
try this, and each time extend the length of time before giving
him a treat. I hope that helps

Answer 5

Yell at him.. our Yelling is like a mother barking at a puppy to him you are his mom... LOL

Seriously now... He is spoiled and wants your attention.. it happens.

When my dogs bark, I will usually just talk very quietly to them.. until they stop barking and listen to me... they *stay* where ever it is they were while all the barking is going on... that does not change..

just the quiet talk / a light touching... be soothing then say.. go to sleep.. or what did you want? and after all is very quiet.... for some time.... then give a treat.

You are teaching them that good things happen when they are quiet...

GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

Ignore it.The first time you tell it to be quiet or to shut up you shown it attention even if it`s negative attention dogs like yours love any kind of attention.