Barking!

[angieh]

OK, I know that Mini Schnauzers as a breed are barkers but which is the best way to stop it? It is so embarrassing - Monty barks at people, bicycles, horses, dogs, prams, children, old people ........ and we think even the rain the other day.

The trainer at the puppy group says just ignore him when he barks, but that doesn't seem to be working. OH was searching the Internet last evening and came across advice that recommended shouting NO at the dog as soon as it starts barking. He has tried this this morning with Monty in the car park and it did seem to work after a short while. In fact when two people who were previously Mini and Standard Schnauzer owners came over to make a fuss of Monty, he was as good as gold, got excited but didn't bark at all!!!

Any comments on the different methods???

[PoshPuss]

As a puppy, my Bron barked a lot, so much that we had a anonymous letter telling us off for 'letting her bark' at 8am when someone was having breakfast and it annoyed them
Upset as I was I couldn't see the reason for the complaint, you can't let a puppy bark, they just do it to communicate, and 8am wasn't too early IMO, and it wasn't incessant. Anyway, she soon controlled her barking the more familiar she became with her surroundings and people's noises.
Some things sparked her off, dustbin men's lorries and the reverse beeps, ding dong doorbells, even as she got older but don't let it bother you. Monty is young. Yes I think dogs can be trained to bark on demand, I recall someone said 'speak' and the dog would bark but stopping them barking is futile.
I grant you that if a dog is barking in distress that's different but he's a happy chap just talking to you, in his own way.

[Elaine]

I personally wouldnt be shouting NO at him as you are only barking back which could make things worse. Rayne, being a wee terrier is quite the barker too, some of it I accept as being part of her breed but I do also, when I see people/dogs aproaching, get her to sit and focus on me rather than who or whats aproaching.
I'd recomend loads and loads of socialisation and try not to let him meet any one or any dog when he is too excited, simply turn and walk away for a bit then turn back, the turn should be quick so as to break his focus. But if you are already tense this kind of training probably wont work, you have to be calm and forget about your embarrassment.

[Elaine]

Just to add, read on the daily thread about you getting conflicting advice, sadly that's what will happen when you post on public forums for dog training advice. And I know just how confusing and conflicting it can all be.
My advice on this would be to read through several different training methods, decide which would suit you and Monty best and go with that. When asking for advice perhaps try to find one person who you know that are either trainers or have trained many dogs of their own and are knowledsgable, some one you can trust and ignore all others, because it really does get very confusing and frustrating when you have many telling you what you should and shouldnt do with your dog.

[angieh]

Thanks for that advice Elaine - makes sense about not barking back!!!

[Velvet]

Agree with Elaine when you shout you can actually encourage barking as the dog sees it as you joining in

As puppies i encourage barking & my "key" word is "enough" said firmly. I use the dogs name first although that now has conflicting issues Its worked for me & nearly 30 years with Boxers anyway i say firmly "Harvey, enough" saying the dogs name gets his attention & immediately give foodie treat

In a way its teaching them to bark, Harvey will bark on comnand & stop once i say "enough".it is repitition though & Rome wasnt built in a day type thing. Its normal for them to bark - the worlds an exciting place & he sounds a confident wee chap, so well done for gettimg him to that stage

Some of the training ideas these days i listen to in amazement, however if it works for you & your dog . Im just showing my age methinks!!

Ive actually got a good recall with both Timmy & Amber - using food treats. Tim was a bit stubborn but theyre all different i love to hear the wee feet running from wherever they were & wee faces all innocent & expectant for their whiskas sensation treat

I really will have to try & get a photo of the dogs & cats all sitting together waiting for a treat

[MrsH]

I read in a training book about teaching your dog firstly to bark on cue then move on to teaching him to stop. It seemed a rather complicated process involving exciting the dog with a toy and if I remember rightly it needed another person there in some role or other. The book was "Clever Dog" (training your dog to be really useful) by Gwen Bailey.

To be honest it all seemed a bit of a faff but I was willing to give it a go but then I got ill so didn't actually get started, forgot all about it in fact. Morgan's not a huge barker (unless he sees someone in a flourescent jacket ) and responds well to a calm "Ah, ah" or a firmer "Enough now!" on occasions.

Wholeheartedly agree with Elaine and everything she said about conflicting advice!

[dandysmom]

I'm just assuming it's just a dog's nature to bark, as I know very little about them, and breaking a natural habit must be difficult. Barking is really maddening to non-dog people when it goes on for hours ..... like the two across the street

Are Jack Russells barkers? Nigel next door is a very good dog. rarely does, and when he does they say: :Nigel, NO! and he stops.

I've heard of electric collars that administer a mild shock when the dog barks, but I think that is cruel and unnatural; also the cutting of vocal cords; now that is beyond the pale, cannot imagine a vet who would do that .... but things are strange in America, we still have no law about declawing, and some vets who do it .....

[Kazz]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hmm it is an irritation Angie. I detest dogs barking for no reason I can and will tolerate a dog barking a warning, but there is a dog over the road from me who just barks mind you she spends most of the time in the back garden (not heard her for a while actually)

Sal will give warning bark but she does not bark for ages although she does have something to say for herself if her Kong gets stuck somewhere she cannot get it. But a quick "Oi" stops it and when she was younger a little side tracking was in order she never barks outside.

I think Monty is getting excited, hence the barking there is a chap round the corner with a puppy who barks and barks when he sees a dog its ear piercing too yap too. The chap never lets the pup meet dogs though.........so I see it as frustration. I would just bombard his world (that sounds horrible) with as many things as possible so he does not have chance to think "bark" and remember as the World is exciting....... may as well tell the World he's in it too.

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[Velvet]

Originally Posted by MrsH

I read in a training book about teaching your dog firstly to bark on cue then move on to teaching him to stop. It seemed a rather complicated process involving exciting the dog with a toy and if I remember rightly it needed another person there in some role or other. The book was "Clever Dog" (training your dog to be really useful) by Gwen Bailey.

To be honest it all seemed a bit of a faff but I was willing to give it a go but then I got ill so didn't actually get started, forgot all about it in fact. Morgan's not a huge barker (unless he sees someone in a flourescent jacket ) and responds well to a calm "Ah, ah" or a firmer "Enough now!" on occasions.

Wholeheartedly agree with Elaine and everything she said about conflicting advice!

Sounds very complicated Mrs H! There is only me to train my dogs but i enjoy it. Once you do it / train them to bark & stop it is as natural as house training

However i think its important to do what suits you as an owner - as Elaine says it can be confusing with so many different ideas out there