How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

Up at 2 am every night trying to get your dog to be quiet? Maybe it's time to try a little home training.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• dog treats
• a whistle

1. If your dog is barking too loudly to hear your commands, blow the whistle to get his attention. After several sessions this may not be necessary anymore, but do it initially to get the ball rolling.
2. Gently place your hand around the dog's mouth and hold it shut firmly (being very careful not to grind the teeth or hurt the animal in any way). Immediately give the command "no" or "hush" while gently holding the mouth closed and looking your dog directly in the eye.
3. Release and wait for silence. If your dog is silent after you leave, come back with a treat to let him/her know that he/she has behaved correctly. Never omit this step, as getting the treat is what teaches the dog what good behavior is!
4. Continue to repeat the training until the desired behavior is learned. It will take time, so be patient and always enforce the same exact steps every time.

Tips & Warnings

• Telling your dog that he/she is "bad" is not necessary.
• Remain calm throughout the process so that your dog can learn that he/she will be rewarded for good behavior, not just chastised for bad behavior.
• Be careful not to hold your dog's mouth so tightly that it becomes uncomfortable or painful!
• Remember to be patient and consistent or all training will be useless.