Alert Barking - Training Quiet

There's nothing worse than not being able to hear yourself think as your dog barks madly in your ear. You can cope with the odd bark – but you can't ignore the cacophony of sound cascading round the house every few minutes as your dog sees a bird, or a cat, or someone passing your house, or a plane flying overhead…

Excessive barking is annoying, frustrating and makes you scream in frustration. Teaching your dog to shut up and be quiet can save your sanity.

TRAINING "QUIET"
Training your dog to be quiet when you tell him to needs him to be barking! Set up a family member or friend to create a situation when your dog is likely to bark (walking past the house, or knocking at the door) so that you can teach "quiet". As soon as you hear even the smallest first "woof", pass a treat across in front of your dog's nose, say "quiet", then when they stop barking, praise, fuss and treat really well. Repeat this three times. Then try the cue and hand movement without the treat, producing the treat(s) once your dog stops barking. You can also encourage your dog to run away from the door or window, say into the kitchen, to get their treat. When you can't be present, make sure you don't allow your dog to practice his barking – because practice makes perfect. Keep him out of front rooms or hallways, or put up blinds, or use baby gates where necessary.

WHAT IF MY DOG KEEPS BARKING OR BARKS AT OTHER TIMES?
If your dog doesn't listen to "quiet" said twice, 3 seconds apart, and continues to bark, get up and take him out of the room/hallway, shutting the door. Wait until he has been quiet for 2-3 seconds then go back in. Leave immediately again if barking restarts. Praise and reward all quiet. If you're outside, take your dog back inside behind a shut door, wait for silence then praise and reward. Once quiet, your dog can go out again - but be prepared to repeat this step if he starts barking again.
Never leave your dog outside on his own – it's too easy for him to develop a barking habit.
If your dog barks on a walk (barking at odd objects, or other dogs or people), turn sharply and walk away in another direction. Once your dog is quiet for a few seconds, praise, reward well, and turn back to walk in the original direction. Repeat as necessary.

ENCOURAGING QUIET BEHAVIOUR
Watch your dog carefully and praise all quiet, calm responses and provide attention, affection, food or play to encourage these behaviours. Saying "No", yelling, or other punishment can make barking worse. Once the barking stops, distract your dog with affection, or a favourite treat or toy, so that the quiet behaviour is reinforced and barking is less likely to recur.

DON'T WASTE MONEY ON CONTRAPTIONS AND DEVICES
There are several bark activated devices (audible alarm, citronella spray, bark activated collar) on the market. They make a noise, or squirt liquid or smell when your dog barks. They may sometimes inhibit barking in some dogs but only if linked to appropriate training. They are as useless as wet cardboard if used on their own. You have to be present to teach your dog not to bark.

KEY POINT: Barking is normal

Dogs bark. It's normal. But it can be a problem if it's excessive and it disturbs you or your neighbours. If that's the case, you need to take action to stop it.

OTHER TYPES OF BARKING
There are lots of other reasons dogs bark, far more than can be put into a help sheet like this! For example, if your dog's barking is due to anxiety or stress, you'll need a treatment programme to address the underlying cause of the stress. Book our Doggy Doctor help if you're struggling to control or manage your dog's barking – either a House Visit or a Consultation Call will give you peace of mind – and a quieter life.