How to Teach a Dog Not To Bark (excessively)

So your dog barks excessively. This is cumbersome to you (I know) and to your neighbors(again, I know). Pricing Bark Collars, their so expensive! (Please rate with stars above)

Things You'll Need

• A $9.00 muzzle from Petco.
• A hand full of treats.
• Pet Calm from Petco.
• Patience

Instructions

1. Take your dog into Petco and fit him properly with a mesh type muzzle. This muzzle should fit snug around the snout, but not digging into your dog's skin.

2. When you get home, turn off the TV and radio. While fitting the muzzle on your dog, Repeat over and over again "no bark", passing the head strap through the collar and cinching tight, but not too tight. This will inhibit him from clawing the muzzle over and off his head and imprint in his mind that muzzle confinement is the result of barking.

3. Get your keys and shake them constantly, saying " I'm going to go" several times. Your dog does know what that means and so his anxiety level will increase in anticipation of going somewhere. Get in your car, making sure your dog can here you, and drive around the block, parking down the street. Do not let him here you park and do not let him here your car door close when you get out.

4. Walk up to your house quietly, making sure that you are down wind and not making any noise. Your dog must think you have left him. Sit outside your home and listen. Within 30 minutes, You may here your dog whine, but he can't bark, if he tries, tell him through the window "no bark". This will shock him when he realizes that you really are his God and you do see and hear everything (blind faith is a powerful thing). Next training session, you will want to give him some "Pet Calm".

5. Go back to your car and come home. Make lots of noise and walk inside. Praise him "That's a good boy", "WhaT a good boy", while removing the muzzle. Immediately give him a treat and play with him. Notice I have capitalized the "T" in theses words; Over pronouncing in a crisp tongue the sound of "T", has a psychological and emotional good feeling effect on dogs.

6. Repeat this daily for 1 week, to imprint in his mind that barking has to be controlled and and that muzzle confinement is the result of barking. Every time he barks unwanted, put the muzzle on him repeatedly telling him "no bark".

Tips & Warnings

• Praise your dog when removing the muzzle

• Always give him/her a treat afterwards.

• Always have plenty of fresh water for your dog.

• Never yell at your dog.

• Your dog will still bark to alert you of intruders or danger, as this natural instinct to protect you takes precedence in his mind over the discomfort of muzzle confinement.

• Always turn off TV and Radio when training, with the exception of training him to alert you of broadcasted alerts. I will write an article on that soon.

• Do not cinch muzzle too tight.

• Always leave fresh water for your dog all year round.

• Never yell at your dog.

• Do not skip any steps in this article.