Twelve Steps to End Mindless Dog Barking

Certain breeds bark more than others. Some types of dogs were actually bred to be barkers. Then again, the Basenji does not bark at all (though the breed can vocalize in other ways). If you listen closely, you will eventually learn your dog's different barks.

Twelve step system to END mindless barking.

Once you determine the cause of your dog's excessive barking, you can begin to control the behavior. The best way to prevent excessive barking in the first place is to remove what is causing the barking. You also want to be certain not to inadvertently encourage the barking. Finally, give your dog better things to do besides barking. Most barking is due to the dog not being properly supervised. Bad habits are learned too.

1) Three bark rule. In the three bark rule, your dog learns a cue to stop the barking. This cue is taught first until it is solid and your dog recognizes it as a clear signal to turn away from what they are doing, come to you, and receive a very good reward. Once the cue is solid, then you add it to the barking sequence. First bark equals you walk over to the dog, put your hand on their shoulders. This shows respect for their communication, as you say 'thank you'. The dog may bark again, bark two and maybe again, bark three. After the third bark, you simply turn and walk away and say your cue word (whatever that may be). Your dog will eagerly turn away, follow you and receive a reward for being quiet. You must wait 3 to 10 seconds to deliver the reward after the barking ends because what you are rewarding is being quiet, not barking. So this is a warning to be cautious and consistent in waiting for quiet when you reward.

2) Respect Training - This is important because to diminish barking, your dog needs to see you as someone worth listening to. This involves restructuring family routines to take away the responsibility of dog to over-bark and react. It is your job to maintain a calm, stress free environment . Here is what to do: a) don't make a big deal out of coming and going, remain neutral body language to any attention seeking the dog exhibits, b) Visitors should be advised to be neutral with the dog, toss a treat and then you all simply wait for the dog to lie down. Visitor training is key to stopping endless barking as visitor becomes a welcome sight., not something to worry about. Dogs will know the difference between an unwelcome visitor and a welcomed visitor.

3) Sound Desensitization Tapes - Using barking "sounds" to stimulate learning and desensitize to sounds that cause over-reactive barking can be helpful if your dog is a car barker, or barks in response to neighborhood dogs. You can make your own tape either by finding dog barking sounds via the Internet and recording them, or walking in your neighborhood or recording your own dog's barking. There are videotapes with barking dogs, and television shows too you can use as a source for your tapes.

4) Rule of redirecting and window blocking. Use shades or curtains to block visual stimulation and stop continued annoying barking and 'frantic rushing'. It is your job to prevent, manage and teach.

5) Rule of redirecting activity (to mentally stimulate and tire dog). Pack Kong's, toys, squeakies, music CDs for dogs, and make sure the car ride is relaxing, calming and that there is something to do from beginning to end. Highly reward lying down in the car.

6) Exercise (to physically tire dog). A mentally challenged and physically tired dog equals a happy dog that does not need to bark or race endlessly. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise so there is not as much pent-up energy to burn by barking.

7) Respect your dog's vocalizations. You can do this by studying what they mean. Dogs bark for a reason, it is their way of communication. A great book and resource on this topic is Turid Rugaas's book Barking: The Sound of a Language.

8) Car barking suggestions. The goal with car training is two-fold a) to keep the car a calm, relaxing place to be and b) rewarding good behavior equaling not barking. In the second case, simply learn to use a clicker. When you see your dog's stimuli, you immediately go to work and click your dog for the ACTION of being quiet. They will turn their head to you (redirect their attention away from the stimuli) and you will reward them highly for the POSITION of the head. The key here is that you must see the stimuli long before your dog and then watch your dog as the stimuli approaches. Click a lot. As the stimuli comes nearer, you need to click and treat faster. When the stimuli goes away, the clicking and treating stops. You are teaching your dog that the scary thing will go away when they are quiet, and that by pairing something pleasant with something they are worried about soon calculates into the scary thing becoming pleasant, and the barking stops. There is no reason to bark. A few suggestion below for keeping the car a relaxed place to be.

9) Car barking - keeping your car relaxed and calming. Here are a few techniques to try with your dog. a)

Spend some time feeding the dog in the car while parked. As stimuli approach reward your dog for being calm, thereby creating a calmer association with the car while it's not moving, b) spray rescue remedy for dogs, or Bach flower essences and/or add a favorite, comforting toy or one of your t-shirts or jackets, c) mask the lower-half of the windows, leaving the upper half unobstructed for the driver and stick to side-streets. Don't try to merge at normal speeds with this limited-field of view.. For example, parchment-paper will let in light but block the dog's view of cars, people and pedestrians.

10) Respecting your dog's barking - Never go to comfort, pet, hug or feed your dog when she is barking for attention or out of anxiety, that would be rewarding the behavior, thus encouraging it. Shouting at your dog to stop barking will probably just sound like more barking. It may actually cause her to bark even more.

11) Basic obedience as a relaxation position. After getting your dog's attention, practice basic obedience, like sit and especially, down, in order to shift her focus away from approaching or passing triggers.

12) Train your dog to bark. Stop barking by actually training speak. Add a cue for quiet or then never cue speak.

In summary, there is a reason your dog is barking, so identify what it is and then take action to redirect their attention. Pick a technique you feel works for your dog and stick with it. It is always wise to supervise your dog, teach them what to do, not what not to do, and to respect your dog's bark as a communication tool to you.

As a behavior dog trainer, I have my own method called the three bark rule. The method involves a clicker and "backchaining process". Backchaining means you start with the END of the behavior, in this case the word = "quiet" or "done" or "shh". I train this by saying my "done word", backing away so dog turns from what they are doing, and rewarding heavily for coming to me no matter where I might be. I don't add it to the barking sequence yet, until it is 100% understood. Then I train it WITH the barking. Simply put, the owner shows the dog they respect the communication by going to the dog, even putting a palm on their shoulder. Then you say "thank you". If your dog barks again, that is one more time, and I allow one after that, for 3 barks. Then I say my "done word" which I have already trained to mean turn away from, come to me, and get a reward. Your end word equals you, the owner will take care of it. The redirection equals a calm aftermath. Then you prevent and manage so barking does not continue.