Puppy Barking
A puppy barking may not bother you but it may get tiresome for neighbors. Proper puppy manners include when to bark and when not to bark.
It might sound like an odd way to stop a puppy from barking is to encourage it to bark but this can work! It’s “backwards” to us because we aren’t a dog. You don’t want the dog to stop barking totally, but rather be selective and learn what to bark at.
Reasons that trigger your puppy barking can be many.
• Seeing a neighbor or strange dog outside the yard.
• A doorbell.
• Hearing something outside.
• Boredom.
• Hunger.
• Attention.
By teaching your puppy barking is good sometimes you then can teach that other times is not appropriate to bark at. There are several things people should understand about dogs before going into this part of training.
• If they bark don’t yell at the dog. This can be interpreted as you’re joining him in barking so there IS something to bark at! Instead use “SHHHH!!”
• Be a leader. Firmly but gently clamp your hands on the puppy’s muzzle and ‘growl’ NOO to him.
• Increase activity. A puppy barking is a puppy that has too much to think about. A tired puppy is less likely to ‘boredom bark’.
Start by teaching the puppy to bark when you want. Get a smelly treat or favorite toy and make sure he knows you have it. Have him sit, praise then wave it in front of him saying “SPEAK!” As soon as he does praise him but do not give the treat! If he barks more than a few times say “SHHHT” and as soon as he’s quiet reward and give a treat.
• Consistently enforce the rules.
• Barking at someone at the door is ok; barking beyond when told to hush isn’t.
• Barking at something out of order is ok; once you’ve checked it out and said hush they should be quiet.
• Never assume your puppy barking is for nothing but at the same time don’t reward with attention. When the puppy is in the yard barking *look* to see what he’s barking at. Look where he’s looking…is it a squirrel or a cat in the tree? Is there someone walking by? Let him know you’ve seen it and “shhh” applies.
It’s unreasonable to forbid totally puppy barking but you can use it to benefit you. Repetition will reward your puppy for barking at things you want to know about but teaches him to ignore what is ‘normal’ in our world. For example, someone walking on the street is not “bark-worthy” but someone on the outside of the fence is near his territory and is.
Puppy barking is going to happen. Directing it early on and guiding when it is and is not ok is up to us. It will try your patience but dealing with puppy barking early means having a well trained dog that has learned your household rules solidly enough that nuisance barking isn’t an issue.
Direct, don’t eliminate puppy barking. It’s one of the ways they communicate with you!
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