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Offline Kick

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Barking Unnecessarily
« on: February 21, 2008, 11:33:23 AM »
Hi All,

I thought it was about time I posted up for some advice.

Henry has a bad habit of barking for apparently no reason.

This is causing trouble because I am currently allowed to bring him into work. However, if I am not "all eyes on him" and he wants my attention - he barks uncontrollably and runs away from me if I try to stop him.

When at home he is happy playing by himself and will quite peacefully sit and munch a bone or play with a toy without human interaction.  He will sometimes do the same barking trick at home but we can just shut him in the kitchen to calm down and he is very good and never bites at the doorframes or scratches to come out - it's as though he knows he needs to calm down.

At work, however, there is no "time out" room for him and so I end up resorting to putting him in the car and feeling so dreadful for it!

Help!

How do we curb his barking and teach him that when we say "Shhh!" we mean it!?

Thanks xx
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Offline pinkcarys

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Re: Barking Unnecessarily
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2008, 08:02:08 PM »
Hi,

I'm sorry I can't help but have a message from Griffin for Henry. He says that barking is never unnecessary, it is a fun and exciting way to spend the day, and if it winds your mum up, well that's all the better!  :005:  It is great fun training your mum to say Shh. Every time you want to make her say it, bark loudly and eventually she'll say it. Reward her by barking louder next time!
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"My aim in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am"

Cazzie

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Re: Barking Unnecessarily
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 08:04:47 PM »
I wish I could help but can only sympathise, im sure someone will be able to help you  :D
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Offline JoanneM

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Re: Barking Unnecessarily
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 08:58:38 PM »
Quote from: pinkcarys on February 21, 2008, 08:02:08 PM
Hi,
I'm sorry I can't help but have a message from Griffin for Henry. He says that barking is never unnecessary, it is a fun and exciting way to spend the day, and if it winds your mum up, well that's all the better!  :005:  It is great fun training your mum to say Shh. Every time you want to make her say it, bark loudly and eventually she'll say it. Reward her by barking louder next time!

Murphy seems to live with this belief too.  :005: 
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Offline DennyK

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Re: Barking Unnecessarily
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 09:53:27 PM »
I hesitate to offer advice, since I can't shut Paddy up in the car but here goes with what others have previously posted and what I've read in training guides....... ph34r :005:

Have you taught him to bark on command?  Many people recommend this (I'm going to start this with Paddy again this weekend) - get your dog really excited (involves you acting like a hyperactive prat) and woof at him to get him barking.  If you've got a clicker - click and treat.  Otherwise - "good boy" all excitedly and treat.  Keep doing this till he's reliably barking, then add the verbal command ("bark" or "sing" or whatever you want) and the non-verbal sign for "bark".

When you've reliably taught him to bark on command - then teach the "quiet" command - verbal and signal.  It could be "shhh" - beyond the zone of the car, mine is (unimaginatively, but easy to remember) "Quiet"....

Anyway, that's the theory. 

Now where's my muppet of a dog...ah yes, that will be him barking without having even been asked.  Clever boy.... >:D >:D ph34r

Denise
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