How to Make Your Dog Stop Barking for Attention
In terms of needing attention, dogs are like any other family member: they like to feel included in our daily activities. Unlike many family members, however, dogs can't be reasoned with when they are barking and disruptive to the household. Rather, they must be taught to behave in a more acceptable manner. Fortunately, because not all dogs respond in the same way to training, many tools and training methods exist to help the dog owner with reducing unwanted barking behavior. Two of the most common and the most simple-to-use methods include positive reinforcement and anti-bark collars.
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Instructions
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Positive Reinforcement
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Eliminate all environmental factors that contribute to barking. Make sure the dog is in a comfortable space, with a blanket or padding, sufficient food and water, in a space free of drafts or excessive heat. If the dog barks at passers-by, then either block the view of people or animals passing by, or train the dog not to bark at the passers.
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Eliminate any behavioral reinforcements. Some dogs do bark because the relief/release that barking provides is sufficient unto itself. However, others are reinforced by the attention that the owner provides while correcting the dog, by being let out of the crate or the house on demand, or being provided with some other "bribe," such as a toy or food, in order to be quieted.
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Interrupt the behavior by raising your voice (without yelling) and tell the dog "no" in an authoritative tone. As an alternative, use a non-verbal "ah!" tone or a whistle to interrupt the behavior.
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Reinforce the dog being quiet by using a treat or by using a clicker and a treat.
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Add a command word or signal as the dog begins to understand what is expected of him. The dog will begin to show understanding if he pauses before barking at its normal stimulus or if it interrupts its own behavior.
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Continue reinforcing the dog for being quiet each time the stimulus is introduced until the behavior becomes consistent. After the behavior is consistent, reinforce the behavior on an irregular basis to ensure that the dog will maintain good behavior to earn a treat. This kind of reinforcement is called "variable reinforcement."
Anti-bark Collars
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Eliminate all environmental factors that contribute to barking.
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Eliminate any behavioral reinforcements.
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Select an anti-bark collar. Although all collars provide a negative stimulus and break the behavior, some do so using a citronella spray and others do so using an electronic stimulus. Both provide effective and fairly harmless stimuli; however, some breeds or types of dogs may benefit from or be susceptible to the stimulus from one over the other. Citronella spray, for example, might have a more negative effect on dogs with sensitive eyes, while a dog with sensitive skin might be negatively affected by a collar that emits an electronic signal.
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Reinforce the quiet behavior with treats or clicker training.
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Tips & Warnings
Yelling at a dog to be quiet is ineffective, because in his mind, you are barking back at it.
Extinction (ignoring) is effective for training dogs to be quiet when you first enter your home. Instead of greeting your dog immediately upon entering, ignore them for several minutes before doing so. This will reduce the excitement of your return and keep your dog quiet until you choose to give it attention.
Anti-barking collars are ineffective unless they are accompanied by training. They will interrupt the barking behavior and reduce the barking when you are not at home; however, you must reinforce the "quiet" behavior and command when you are present.
If you choose not to use an anti-barking collar, a spray bottle filled with half vinegar and half water can make an effective and harmless alternative. One or two squirts with the vinegar solution will interrupt the behavior and will allow you to reinforce the "quiet" behavior and command.
Barking is a learned behavior and can be prevented by socialization and early "quiet" training when the dog is a puppy.
If using an electronic collar, make certain that the contacts are placed firmly against the dog's skin. A loose collar may seem more humane, but contacts that fail to remain firm against a dog's skin will cause electricity to arc.
