how to stop barking?

[VickyG]

Henry (show cocker) is quite a vocal dog and a barker  but recently it just seems to be that he is barking all the time and for no real reason.  He barks when he is out in the back garden for no reason, barks when I'm on the phone, when out on walks and I stop to talk to someone, he just barks and barks until I set off walking again.  What can I do?  I don't mind the odd bark but it is getting a bit much, how can I teach him to shut up 

Also we will be getting a new puppy  next week and I really don't want him to teach her his bad habits and don't think I could cope with two permanant barkers 

I have done clicker training with him for toileting etc so can I use clicker for shuting him up?  If so how?

thanks in advance 

[SkyeSue]

Yes, you can  I haven't done this with Chloe as she's not a serious barker, but I know that several folk on here have trained their dog to bark on command only.

Here goes:-

1) Trigger the barking (knock on the door, or table, or have a friend ring the doorbell...anything that you know will get Henry going). Whilst he is barking, click and immediately give hm a treat.

2) As he swallows the treat, make a shh gesture with your free hand, right in his face. He will look surprised. Click that expression, move your hand away, and treat.

3) Wait for the barking to start again (or trigger it). Click during a bark and treat. As he swallows, surprise him again with the shhhh cue, click and treat. Repeat the sequence several times.

4) As the shhhhh cue starts to work, you'll see him try to keep his mouth closed, after he's eaten the treat for barking. He wants to earn that next click and treat. Great!

5) NOW say Speak! and click the next bark. Follow with the shhhhh cue instead of the treat, and then click and treat for silence. You are teaching two cues. As he is learning the speak cue he may whine or yip. Click any sound at first, then just "woof".

6) To make the new cues very permanet, keep clicker and treats handy and reinforce "speak" and "shhh" at least once or twice any time he barks for a few days.

There you go...problem sorted...

As I said, I haven't tried this, but it sounds good to me  Pretty hard work though 

[spanielcrazy]

He barks when he is out in the back garden for no reason, barks when I'm on the phone, when out on walks and I stop to talk to someone, he just barks and barks until I set off walking again. 

Sounds like attention seeking, the same way a child will interrupt if you are on the phone or talking to someone. Teaching a sit/stay, thus giving him a job and the possibility of a reward (attention) for doing his job (sitting and staying) will help loads. Things like stuffed kongs, or lots of short (5 minute) obedience training during the day will also help.

The new puppy may also help relieve some of that as he will be busy with the pup (either avoiding or playing  ) It may also help relieve the garden barking as he will have another dog out there with him; often the outdoor barking is to call out to other dogs to have some company.

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/attention-seeking-behavior/page1.aspx

[fizzyntiffy]

Thank you SkyeSue  , just thought I'd try it with my two cos they bark lots, and lots, and lots.

After four goes with the barking = clicker = cheese = shhhhh = clicker = cheese they suddenly decided to look at me when there was a noise.  Will persevere 

[september]

Can you do the same thing without a clicker??

Roxy is getting very bad at barking at all kinds of things and goes mad when someone is at the door.  i don't mind her barking a few times but would like her to shut up when told!! 

[SkyeSue]

Can you do the same thing without a clicker??

Roxy is getting very bad at barking at all kinds of things and goes mad when someone is at the door.  i don't mind her barking a few times but would like her to shut up when told!! 

I would imagine you could, if you had very quick reactions and used the right words...good, or whatever your words are for telling your dog she's a good girl at the precise moment she is doing what you want  The brilliant thing about the clicker is that it marks the precise moment that your dog does what you want iyswim. Hey, I'm no expert....as I said, its not something I've tried with Chloe, but the method is used by Karen Pryor, and she is a genius in my eyes 

[nicros]

We have had this problem with Jake he barked at anything for ages ands didn't want to stop, especially in the garden. I have worked really hard with him to stop this over the last 3 months. I started knocking on the door  (with it open) and saying "ah ah ah good boy" I knock on the back door when he is out and he now stops straight away and comes in for a treat, sometimes he doesn't bark at all even when another dog is going past. In the house I just gently knock on a table or even on the sofa and he stops straight away now. I'm not sure how it works but after 3 months of doing it and loads of praise and a treat when he stops he has got it. I am so pleased with him as I thought nothing would ever work. He is 20 months now and hardly barks at all. Good luck, all I know is that I was patient (even though I didn't feel like it at the time!) and consistant and eventually he got it, so good luck Nic