Dog Barking Problem

Looking for tips on how you stopped your dogs barking. I have an 18 month mixed breed dog. She barks at everything. Neighbours in their yards, people or cars going by the front of the house. Looking for tips on stopping this behaviour. She's the best dog I've ever had other than this issue.

We are working on this with Livia right now (still a major work in progress). I grabbed this from one of the communities on FB :

http://i46.tinypic.com/2uho7xg.jpg

It has been working really really well so far. It doesn't stop her from the initial bark, but we can interrupt her and get her attention to get it to stop.

["The Positive Interrupt" is found on page 119 of Pat Miller's, _Do Over Dogs_ (2010)]

Good post above, thanks. If you read Leslie McDevitts "Control Unleashed" you will some similarities, with a twist as Premack Principle allows the behaviour.

Another idea is to cue the barking to a command. Once dog learns to bark on command you have control and need a command for not barking too. I haven't tried this but I have used this idea with jumping.

A trick that works for me is laughing at my dog. "Ho, ho, ho, you big silly, that's nothing to bark at. You made a mistake." This works to reassure him that someone coming to our door is not a threat and I'm in charge. After all, would I laugh at a serious threat? Of course this only works for barking when I'm home with him.

Definitely will be trying the "Positive Interrupt".

Frank is middle aged, and has always been a yard barker, we just went on more walks and had less time in the yard.

This winter he wants to always be outside (could be the nice and warm woodstove being used a lot this year) and the barking is crazy with no response to any call - I did trick him with a lazer once.

He's crazy for food and balls so rewards won't be a problem ;)

We'll try some low stimulus interrupting tonight!!

Had not noticed how hard it is to find quiet time around my house, a whole weekend went by with only a few positive interruption. Still not ready to try in the real world, but hopefully this'll be the 'thing'!

Had not noticed how hard it is to find quiet time around my house, a whole weekend went by :D

:thumbs upGreat post Loki. :thumbs up

Never would of thought a "cue" word could interrupt unnecessary barking.

Mollie's terribly for a quick yap as soon as I let her out but eventually, she calms down and levels out. On the other hand, when my husband lets her out, not a peep! :wall:

Going to give this a whirl for myself and see if it works just as good as my husband's simple do nothing strategy. :o

Thank you for posting the question mybubbles65.