Inappropriate Vocalization (Barking)
by Lotte Griffiths – Accredited Behaviour Consultant (Canine) (ABC of SA™)
If your puppy is barking it is important to establish what is eliciting the barking, e.g. is it a warning … an intruder is coming … type of bark; is it I’m in pain … which needs immediate investigation … is it an I’m scared, lonely, hungry type of bark or is it simply attention seeking.
If it is a warning bark: allow a couple of barks, then tell your puppy to be quiet – see below
If it is pain induced bark: It needs immediate investigation, if necessary by a veterinarian
If it indicates a need to go to the toilet: get your puppy out there as fast as you can.
If it is a scared, lonely, hungry bark: you may have to attend to the puppy’s needs or ignore, depending on the situation.
If, however, it is simply an attention-seeking bark: you would more often than not do best by simply ignoring it.
Either way, it is very hand to have a signal that tells your puppy to stop barking
Quiet Exercise:
Have a tasty treat ready and wait for or elicit a bark.
As soon as he starts to bark, wriggle the treat in front of his nose.
Immediately he stops barking … in order to sniff the treat. After all, he cannot bark and sniff simultaneously … say “Quiet” in a calm tone of voice, then let him have the treat and praise him quietly.
Notes to the Quiet Exercise
Make sure the reward is something your puppy really, really wants otherwise he’ll just ignore you and continue barking.
It is very important you remain calm and do not shout at him during this exercise because if you do, he will simply think you’re barking as well … at whatever he is barking at … and then continue to bark, probably even louder, to back you up.
If it is pain induced bark: It needs immediate investigation, if necessary by a veterinarian
If it indicates a need to go to the toilet: get your puppy out there as fast as you can.
If it is a scared, lonely, hungry bark: you may have to attend to the puppy’s needs or ignore, depending on the situation.
If, however, it is simply an attention-seeking bark: you would more often than not do best by simply ignoring it.
Either way, it is very hand to have a signal that tells your puppy to stop barking
Quiet Exercise:
Have a tasty treat ready and wait for or elicit a bark.
As soon as he starts to bark, wriggle the treat in front of his nose.
Immediately he stops barking … in order to sniff the treat. After all, he cannot bark and sniff simultaneously … say “Quiet” in a calm tone of voice, then let him have the treat and praise him quietly.
Notes to the Quiet Exercise
Make sure the reward is something your puppy really, really wants otherwise he’ll just ignore you and continue barking.
It is very important you remain calm and do not shout at him during this exercise because if you do, he will simply think you’re barking as well … at whatever he is barking at … and then continue to bark, probably even louder, to back you up.
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