Barking puppie

[Rayn]

Hello all.
Recently got a puppy. Had dogs before but they weren't yappers. He is 11 weeks and barks at everything. Barks at us, barks for attention and barks in the garden. His needs are met and he is adorable the rest of the time
The barking is driving me bonkers though and I know it is his way of expressing his needs.
However, my daughter is getting upset with the noise all the time and sure the neighbours must be getting pissed off.
I have tried ignoring him but he just carries on. Any ideas?

What breed is he? If it's a natural barker, I suggest you teach the comand "bark" once he has mastered this, you can teach "quiet" ... this way you can control the behaviour!

As you have discovered there are various reason a dog barks:-

Watchdog barking - whats that? I need to deal with it, get it to go away of chase it away.

Request barking - I neeeeeeed something now

Spooky barking - not sure what that is I feel unsure I know I will bark it away

Boredom Barking - what can I do next? I know bark

Enjoyment Barking - I bark because it makes me feel good

Some dogs bark for all of the above others for just some of the above.

It is worth looking at the overall day of your dog and see if they think tey are getting enough stimulation or rest.

If it is watchdog barking look at ways of blocking off the area that causes the barking eg have curtains drawn in the room that looks out on the neighbours.

Request barking -never ever give the dog anything if it is barking. Stand still see if they sit and then reward with loads of attention and a game. - Barking walk away - Expect the barking to get worse before it gets better if it is request barking and if you ONCE give into the barking this will take way longer to sort out. However also see if you can prevent this barking in the first place Make sure the dog does get enough stimulation through the day, encourage chew toys, and food toys eg kongs.

Spooky barking is really the same as watchdog barking try to prevent the situation that causes the spooky barking

Boredom barking needs similar treatment to request barking but do look at the stimulation and sleep the puppy is getting.

I personally never teach a quiet command as if you are not with the dog that will obvioulsy not work. A dog that likes barking will get much more reinforcement from the barking than from the reward you give for being quiet so you are on a road to nowhere with this really.

If you are not sure why your dog is barking another alternative is to scatter feed everytime they bark - this is not rewarding the bark but the dog will associate the food with whatever is making them bark (you may never find out what it is) so when they hear, see or smell whatever makes them bark they will turn to you for a treat

Good luck this is an annoying one to sort out as you are constantly worried about neighbours etc be consistent and it can be sorted

The other really basic thing you can do is to train a thank you.

Just say thank you and throw a treat on the floor (do this to start with when the dog is not barking!)
Do this sveveral times a day for several days.

Over time when you say thank you the dog will turn to you to get a treat.

So next step

Your dog barks you say "thank you" and the dog turns to you for a treat and stops barking - it works like magic

Some fabulous tips! He is the dreaded Mumsnet cockapoo. Only had show cockers before and they were super quiet!

Ours has turned into a wooffy madam. We are trying ignoring. Also she’s worse when tired.

Ours is the reverse but some breeds are barkers some are not.
Ours only barks at animals on the TV as she thinks they are in the room, outside she is totally silent, but she is a hunting dog so would give the game away if she was a barker

Your show cockers were quiet? I am very envious mine barks at air🙈

@Rayn we have a cavapoo and omg he barks and absolutely anything and everything! I'm constantly following him around the garden shhing him as to not annoy our neighbors! X

Mine barked at people when we were out, which I managed to get him to stop by distracting him with a treat. Now instead of barking at people, as soon as he sees one he barks at me for a treat. So still barking basically but looking in a different direction.