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Can you train a dog not to bark?

9 replies

SherlockHolmes · 21/05/2019 17:27

We have new neighbours who have a dog that barks all the bloody time.

I need to go and speak to them about it but wondered if you can train dogs to be quiet? Or anything else that I can suggest? It's driving me up the wall.

OP posts:
FiremanKing · 21/05/2019 17:58

Anti bark collars are available. Never had one but I’ve seen dogs wearing them and it lets out a noise the dog can hear when it barks and thus deters them.

horizontalis · 21/05/2019 18:07

Apparently not, since I've had to put up with the same thing for over 25 years. Or it could just be that my NDN is shit at dog training.

My lovely neighbour has two yappy howling balls of fluff and whenever one of them dies she gets another one to replace it. They have all been the same, and the noise is enough to drive you round the bend.

SherlockHolmes · 21/05/2019 18:43

Horizontalis how on earth have you put up with that??

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SherlockHolmes · 21/05/2019 18:44

Firemanking thanks, will Google thus and suggest it nicely.

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 21/05/2019 19:01

Anti bark collars are A Very Bad Idea. My DDog was handed over by his previous owners with a vibrating anti bark collar, and I suspect it was a significant cause of his anxiety problems, which will likely never be fully resolved. He effectively became too terrified to bark in the house, but the problems it caused have been much worse and harder to fix (eg he essentially becomes very loud and aggressive towards anything he's scared of. They're an aversive, punishment based tool and no reputable trainer would recommend the use of one.

What needs to be done is to identify the cause of the barking and remove it so that the dog no longer feels the need to bark. For instance, if the dog is barking when they're out, chances are the dog has separation anxiety and they need to see an APBC or CCAB accredited behaviourist so that they can work on the dog's fear of being alone. If the dog is barking at passers-by, then blocking his view (eg by closing the curtains) should improve matters.

Occasional barking at things like the doorbell and postman, or barking during a really exciting game out in the garden are normal dog behaviour and part of the fabric of life when you have neighbours (along with building noise, BBQs and the sound of children playing).

It is common for dogs to be unsettled by a house move. Mine became more territorial and started barking at anyone in the shared hallway and visitors. Thankfully I have nice neighbours, and I did mostly manage to resolve it but it took several months and professional help, despite not being an issue before we moved.

In the first instance, speak to your neighbours and ask if they are aware that their dog is barking so much, and take it from there. If it only happens when they're out, they may be unaware, or they may not realise the dog's barking is audible in your home. Assume they're reasonable people until proven otherwise Wink

BobbyBrewstersMagicTorch · 25/05/2019 19:36

We have neighbours with a barking dog and they're quite aware that it barks all the time because they're out there with it. Sometimes they'll shout shut up at it, sometimes not.

It barks at 6 in the morning, and at 11 at night, so there's never a time when you can relax and think "ah lovely, peace".

And I disagree that it's like other noise; it's random and therefore far more annoying. A bit like me standing outside their house and screaming for no apparent reason for minutes at a time, all through the day and night. In fact I'm quite tempted ....

PrayingandHoping · 25/05/2019 19:40

Anti bark collars aren't necessary

It's unrealistic to say you can train any dog to never let out a bark. The difference is responsible owners who can train it to stop when asked! That is ALWAYS possible!

RaptorWhiskers · 25/05/2019 19:44

My dog barks at doorbells, noises and people walking past. That’s just what dogs do. But he’s trained to stop when I say Sssh. He never barks for any length of time. And he’s one of the least intelligent breeds so if he can learn Sssh them most dogs can.

Sobeyondthehills · 25/05/2019 19:49

My dog does bark at any noise when he is in the lounge.

Especially other dogs. We have at least 5 different dogs, that bark at various times, that we can hear.

I have been training him that when he hears a dog (or any noise that sets him off) to look at me and sit and he gets a treat, now when they bark, the neighbours come home and shut their front door, it barely registers with him.

But it has taken nearly 7 months and the training is on going

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