How to stop your dog from barking

If you have a dog or dogs, you know that some are quite and others are not. This article deals with the not so quiet dogs that do a lot of barking.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• $1 Spray Bottle
• Tap Water
• Optional Whistle

1. It takes 30 days for anything to become habit. Your dog barking has become a habit to him/her and it will take your discipline to discipline your dog, so be diligent and every time your dog barks inside the house correct him/her.

2. There is no need to be hitting or abusing your dog, barking is a natural behavior for your dog but you can control it. With that being said it is time to let your dog know in unmistakable terms what is OK and What is not OK.

3. This technique will go a long way to the overall training of your dog but for the purpose of this article we are applying it to barking only. When your dog barks more than a few times in a row it is time to stop this behavior. Take the bottle of tap water in the spray bottle on the stream setting and spray his little nose and blow your whistle as loud as you can.
   It is best that you use the whistle because you don't want to yell at him because he will associate your voice with an unpleasant experience and you can do more harm than good.
   
   ** If you don't have a whistle make a quick high pitched sound but not your voice **

4. In the mean time when your dog does something good give him a doggie treat.
   
   ** Never give doggie treats to the dog while training for any other reason than when he does something that you are encouraging ***

Tips & Warnings

• Add Ice to your Tap water the colder the water the better.
• Re-enforce good behavior with doggie treats (only when training never any other time)
• Don't use your voice in a negative tone with your dog use the water and whistle technique instead.

Resources

• TSUNAMI

[natdamama]

on 9/28/2009 VEERY interesting!

[grimsleygl]

on 8/31/2009 Great article with great ideas on making a dog stop barking (or any other bad behavior!). 5*'s and a recommend

[Mindee94]

on 8/14/2009 consistency,consistency, consistency definitely is a key component to breaking this habit. Thanks for the tips.

[mmetro]

on 8/14/2009 I have a neighbor who needs this article! Thanks for the tips!

[cndbl]

on 8/9/2009 Boy did I need this advice! My yorkie has started barking when I get on the phone. YIKES! I usually talk to him like a human and say "Do you mind?" Really doesn't do any good. LOL! Thank you for sharing.