Barking training tips

[duvetdrama]

Hello! My 6 month old pup has started barking when out in the garden...looks like she's not barking at anything in particular, the wind in the trees possibly. I'd really like to nip this in the bud ASAP as we have a big garden that she's been using so much so far but I have to take her in when she barks as I don't want to annoy the neighbours. Does anyone have any training ideas to reduce/stop this? Thanks!

Not an expert but I think one strategy to discourage unwanted behaviour is to strongly train an alternative cue. We use 'in your bed' with a high value food treat reward to stop DDog barking in garden or digging the new hall carpet.

You wont like the answer.

You need to initially restrict her access to the whole garden Only have her outside when you are near her or she is on lead. I would use good old fashioned conditioning when she hears a distraction or sees a distraction what ever she is doing mark it and then reward.

So bird tweets, you say "cool" and then reward. Whatever the dog is doing even if she is still barking.

Very very quickly when she hears/sees whatever it is that makes her bark she will turn to you instead.

It takes a few days for dogs to catch on but it is extremely powerful.

However it is important that when she gets better she is not allowed free reign to start practising the old barking behaviour again.

Thanks, at the moment we just take her in. Because I don't know what she's barking at I have been walking round the garden with her rewarding her for being calm and not barking. No idea if that's right or not but will see how that goes