Hi I have a 9 month puppy chihuahua shitzu cross. I have had some puppy lessons to help with her barking these really helped and I saw real improvement but has started to slide backwards over the last month. She barks whenever someone is at the door and has started barking at home if there is someone in another room.
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Hi everyone, help with puppy barking
- Thread starter Sam p
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I like this method.
Get an empty yoghurt pot and smear it with something like wet dog food, squeeze cheese, meat paste or even yoghurt. When she starts barking, give her the pot to lick, she can’t lick and bark at the same time. As she is licking, use your cue word - like ‘quiet’ or ‘shhhh’.
After as many repetitions as you think she needs to have got the idea, give the cue word first. If she stops barking, fantastic; give the pot now as a reward. If she doesn’t, stay at step one for longer.
Once she stops barking on cue and you have rewarded with the pot a few times, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.
Get an empty yoghurt pot and smear it with something like wet dog food, squeeze cheese, meat paste or even yoghurt. When she starts barking, give her the pot to lick, she can’t lick and bark at the same time. As she is licking, use your cue word - like ‘quiet’ or ‘shhhh’.
After as many repetitions as you think she needs to have got the idea, give the cue word first. If she stops barking, fantastic; give the pot now as a reward. If she doesn’t, stay at step one for longer.
Once she stops barking on cue and you have rewarded with the pot a few times, you can start fading the reward to something more convenient.
OK thanks I will try this , do I just let her keep eating at the pot as long needed to distract her from barking ? For instance if someone's at the door and I can pre-empt her as I can see them should I give this before she starts and use my command if she stays quiet or let her start barking first as usual and then use this to stop her?
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Yes, keep that nose in the pot for as long as it takes!
I personally would pre-empt it and not have her bark at all. Then, if you want her to alert bark once when someone is at the door, I'd teach that separately.
I personally would pre-empt it and not have her bark at all. Then, if you want her to alert bark once when someone is at the door, I'd teach that separately.
When friends or tradespeople visit, ask them to phone when they arrive rather than knocking at the door. You can't do much about the parcel delivery people, but at least that cuts down the amount of door knocking/doorbell ringing. It isn't for ever, just until the new behaviour is established in your dog. You are teaching "When someone knocks/rings
I get the licky pot" rather than "I bark my socks off".
I get the licky pot" rather than "I bark my socks off".
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That made me think of another tip.
Some doorbells let you change the ringtone, that can help too.
Some doorbells let you change the ringtone, that can help too.
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