How do I stop the dog 's excessive barking?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

She is. 5-year-old lab-pointer cross. We got her a year ago from the Dogs Trust, and she has always been pretty highly strung. Our other dog, a lab who we had from a puppy, has never barked when people come to the door, but ddog2 barks every time someone approaches the house, walks past on the pavement, drives/walks up neighbouring drives, or parks and gets out of their vehicle halfway up the street - and it is getting beyond a joke. She even barks when one of the family comes in.

We don't think it is aggressive barking - her tail is wagging and her demeanour seems excited rather than nasty, but I find myself apologising all the time to visitors for her barking, and it is warring on me and on the dses.

I have tried positive reinforcement - when she starts barking, I say 'No Barking', and when/if she stops, I praise her and say 'Good girl for no barking', and give her a treat if I have one to hand.

We hoped it would abate when she settled in with us, but she is still pretty highly strung, and even though she gets lots of affection, praise and plenty of walks with dh, she is as loud as ever.

Has anyone got any advice/suggestions, please? I am considering a rattle tin, or an ultrasonic bark stopper, or perhaps saving up for a dog behaviourist to come and visit to work with the two of us.

[frazzledbutcalm]

First of all, your positive reinforcement will not work as your comments/commands will sound the same to her - no barking and g... g... no barking. In her eyes/mind she's hearing the same command and getting a treat for it.
A good way to try to stop the barking when you're with her is to get an empty pop bottle, put a few stones or dried peas in and keep it down by a chair (or somewhere similar) where she can't see. Every time she barks just give the bottle a shake, the noise will distract her and will eventually, hopefully, break the habit/cycle that has built up.
The good thing though is her barking is not aggressive as you've stated, she's just doing her job as a watch dog, protecting you. It's probably also linked to her former life/home. Worth remembering also that she will never be like your other dog, just the same as us mere mortals, never get two the same

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I will try the rattle bottle, frazzled - thank you. I don't expect the two dogs to be the same - it's more that, having had one very quiet dog, a barky one is more of a shock - daft, I know.

[Itsnotahoover]

I found the best way to stop my old border collie from barking was to teach him to bark on command as then I could gain control of it, if that makes any sense?

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Yes, that does make sense. How did you do it, please?

[frazzledbutcalm]

SDTG - Not daft, I had the same shock with my first 2 DC!! First one a dream, second one devil child not so much a dream

[bergedorf]

I used this method to teach my dog "bark" and "shhh" : www.treatpouch.com/2012/02/stop-your-dogs-barking-teach-bark-and-quiet/

It worked, but I found that she would then bark to get my attention! Also the shhh command Did work but only for a few seconds and she would then start barking again as the impetus was still there.

A behaviourist has told us to now completely Ignore any barking, and instead treat and reward her when she's quiet, calm or relaxed eg lying on her bed.

Work out what her triggers are and then gradually desensitise her to those triggers. Eg I have recorded our doorbell and play it when everything's calm and none of us react to it. She was confused initially but isn't reacting nearly as much as before to its sound.

Good Luck. I know how ear bleeding a barky dog can be!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Thank-you bergedorf!