Step 1 Train your dog to Bark. Although this sounds counter intuitive, read on and all will be revealed. This will be a repetition and reward sequence. Choose the word you want to have your dog react to when you want him to bark e.g. "Talk".
The first step is for your dog to link your command with his barking. Hold up a treat and say, "Talk" Eventually your will bark if only to 'encourage' you to drop the treat.
Say "Good Dog" and give him the treat. Do this twice a day for at least 5 minutes until your dog has learned to bark when you say "Talk".
Gradually start saying "Talk" without always giving a treat but with lots of praise and petting as that is itself a reward.
Using a treat infrequently will train your dog faster because you are using "intermittent reinforcement". It's a very powerful technique because your dog will perform the way you want as they continually hope for that unpredictable treat.
This works just as well on humans. Casinos rely on it for their profits on the slot machines as do golf courses as golfers hit an occasional good shot that keeps them coming back (OK that's a bit of a stretch but that's what it feels like).
Intermittent reinforcement at its best can easily be seen when you feed a begging animal at the table Your pet will keep on begging even if you stop as they know that once in a great while their begging works.
Step 2 Train your dog not to bark Now you want to train the dog to stop barking. Again choose the word you want to have your dog react to when you want him to stop barking bark e.g. "Quiet". The key is to ALWAYS use the same word.
The process is pretty much the same as "Quiet" but adds a layer. Start by having him "Quiet" once he barks, hold up a treat and say "Quiet". Wait until he stops barking, then say "Good Dog", let him have the treat and pet him.
Do this twice a day for at least 5 minutes until your dog has learned to be quiet on your command. Again you gradually reduce the treat level while keeping the praise and petting.
Applying the Training Now when the dog barks at other things, use "Quiet" and "Good Dog" as in training. Again consistency is key. Correct your dog at EVERY bark.
You can now branch out...does your dog bark when people come to the door? If so have someone repeatedly come to the door and use the "Quiet" command. Use treats, praise and petting when you get the desired quiet response.
You can use this technique so the dog doesn't bark when he's alone or if he's in the car etc etc etc. Eventually you won't need treats as 'Good dog" will be reward in itself but the praise must stay. Give treats sparingly.
If training fails A good pro-trainer is a good solution for people who can't train their dogs. Realize that a good part of this process will be training you! Check references and professional credentials. Ask about his methods and see if you agree with them.
As a relative of the wolf who lives in packs, barking serves as a language. Originally barking was the Darwinian result of animals needing a way to fight off threats to their territory and pack. People use this behavior today when they need a guard dog, the often ferocious barking - no matter the size of the animal - scares away other animals and possible human threats as well. Baring their teeth is an added deterrent. Police dogs use this to great effect ...I am told :).
It's hard as you are responsible for your dog who doesn't even talk your language, but since you are higher up the food chain...you have to be the one to take the lead. The first step in quieting your dog is discovering what is making him bark. Once you have an idea of what your dog is barking at or for, you have a much better chance of teaching him to stop.
You may be surprised to learn that you are a member of your dog's pack, perhaps the only member. His barking is his way of communicating with you. You have to find a way to communicate effectively with the dog. Your dog won't be mute...dogs barking is a way of communication and an important way dogs express themselves.
It is normal for dogs to bark but all dogs bark for a reason and that reason varies. They could be lonely, afraid, excited or hungry. They could be barking to assert dominance but they may also need attention or to be let out. So which is it? The key to stopping a dog barking is to know what is causing it and then learn to switch the behavior on and off!
Now that may sound counterintuitive - why would you want to turn on barking? Simply because it gives YOU the control and if you can turn it on, turning it off is as easy to learn. In psychological terms you teach your dog to bark only in response to the specific stimulus you give him and YOU control that stimulus. The dog thankfully often treats it as a big game. This game however, teaches the dog exactly what you (aka the pack leader) want.
It can simply be a word like "Talk" as the initial stimulus followed up by another stimulus to stop the behavior such as "Quiet". The dog needs this combo so that he knows what begins the bark and what terminates the bark.
When you start this process, you have to become aware of what your reactions are as the dog is watching very carefully...if he barks and you get angry the dog will very often continue to bark because in dog world your reaction is justifying the barking and simply accelerates it. He is right to bark as whatever started him barking is making the human angry. Alas you have positively reinforced the barking. However if you train him with a trigger to start and to stop, then the owner has both the on and off switch.
John G. Kelly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Vitamin and Mineral Supplement and Pets. For more information on tools tips and techiques so you can be your own dog whisperer visit my blog. John G. Kelly's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.