My guy has been a vocal dog for as long as I can remember. I was just thinkin today of why not try and stop this behavior for good. So I was hopin for some ideas.

Basically when he's excited and playing, or about to go outside, or thinks he hears the door open or knock, etc gets really barky. It's really pretty annoying.

Now I've tried ignoring him immediately during playing when he starts barking, but that didn't seem to have a lasting effect. I have a bark collar that I've never really used much. His barking is so sudden that it would seem he'd have to have it on all day to stop it. I tell him no every time, and usually make him lay down next to me. But it doesn't seem to have any effect on that first "round" of barks.

Just curious about stuff I could do. It's not a killer characteristic or anything, it'd just be nice if he didn't do it.

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

Jeff, I had the same problem and was unable to fix it with strong collar corrections so I decided to turn a negative behavior into a positive behavior. Sounds crazy I know but I just followed my instincts and hers. She was barking to tell something. Duh

It's good that he alarm barks but then your problem is shutting it off. I would try turning it into a command.

Stand away from the door or window.
- say "go see who's here" while pointing to the door or window. Dog runs to window or door barking.
-Then I say GOOD! so he know's he's done his job.
-Then immediately do a recall from across the room. When he comes back reward big time. YES! THANK YOU! PEFECTO-MUNDO! YOUR THE BEST! all while paying big time with food reward.

You will need a leash and a prong collar or e-collar on him. If he refuses to come on the first call say NO, still no come then he gets a correction.It will help to get people outside to walk by or ring your bell to help you practice this.

If you can get your dog to come away from the window under that type of stimulus, i.e., a cat, passer-by with a dog, visitor you have accomplished a lot of control with your dog inside the house.

For excitement barking such as preparing food, picking up a leash, keys, going outside your dog has been conditioned that by him acting crazy will get him what he wants. I took a non-collar correctional approach. May not work for every dog but it worked like a charm for me.

If your going outside and he starts barking try freezing while giving him a hard stare saying nothing or you could use a verbal command of "enough", that's just personal training preference. If he's a smart dog he will be totally mystified at your frozen posture. When the barking stops continue on with your movements. Repeat this until he is completely calm. This will take a lot of patience. Some people would put a bark collar on their dogs. I personally have no experience with bark collars only E-collars. I'm sure others can offer advice on bark collars and if it would be an appropriate fix for your particular barking problem. IMO, I think your problem may be a lack of Pack Leadership rather than a barking problem. I think nervous or demand barking is only the result of a dog that is not fully trained. You didn't mention, do you work your dog out like run, walk, swim him daily? This should also help calm him down.

Also work on foundation work i.e., sits, down, place, recalls, out, leave it daily to help with Pack Leadership. The DVD sold by Leerburg is a great way to learn your basic obedience. I also learned how to use my E-collar from a Leerburg DVD so I didn't screw up hard work on her recall. I would definately not use an E-collar until you have watched the DVD.

I use the "go see who's here" command because I'm home alone a lot.I like to know if the person is on my property so I can have time to lock my doors or whatever.

You may consider hiring a pro trainer that will use collar corrections either E or prong.

I've had several GSDs, but Nettie, the female I have now, is the most vocal dog I've ever had, both barking and "talking." I had similar problems with her barking at visitors, UPS / Fedex trucks, people walking their dogs past the house and, worst of all, any person or animal that came near the car when she was in it.

I'm not an experienced trainer, but I learned enough from Ed's DVDs and a couple obedience classes to deal with the above situations. Others may offer better or more appropriate suggestions. I'll just give you my experiences.

First off, you have some slightly different situations to deal with, but you need good, solid basic obedience. The dog needs to know sit/stay and "no bark." You need to stop excited behavior and have the dog become/remain calm before putting on the leash, going outside, coming in, etc. You need to be the one in control, not the dog. Nettie has learned that those things won't happen without her "assuming the position" of a calm sit. She got her "no bark" training while in the car. Since she used to be tethered in the back of the SUV out of reach, I used a little squirt bottle of water and "no bark" whenever she would go off on another dog or person coming near the car. It didn't take very many annoying squirts in the face before she got the idea to be quiet.

When I told a trainer about Nettie's going berserk when someone comes to the door, whether guest or peddler, she said, "She's a GSD, what do you expect? She's doing her job." Now, when possible, we'll have her in the house at a sit/stay while we welcome someone in. After she stays calm for a minute or so (reinforcing the "stay" and "no bark" if necessary), she's allowed to momentarily sniff/greet and then she's satisfied, looses interest and will be content to go outside. If it's not possible or convenient to have her meet and greet in the house, we use "no bark" to keep her quiet while she stays outside.

Sometimes when she's barking at someone/something out in front, I'll go outside and check it out and then let her know everything's o.k. and that's she's done a good job of alerting us. When that's not convenient, a "no bark" will suffice.

HTH

Mike

I accidently trained my first dog on the "Who's there?" by saying that whenever he would bark and run to the window. Now I can say it and he will jump up with a little gruff and check all the windows and doors. Strangely enough I can say "Nobody's there!" and he will immediately stop and comeback to me. I don't know how he learned the second part. Must be one of those rare psychic dogs we are always hoping for ....(Maybe because each time I said it for a long time there never really was anyone there). I'm a young woman who lives on their own and I'm an ex prison guard and having a dog that will either hear something or check it out lets me sleep peacefully at night.. .. funny how fierce a shar-pei/pitbull bark can be!!

Our pup isn't a barker ... If he barks, it is one of the following reasons:

#1 There is something there (skunk, deer, cat, wind blowing things in the yard);

#2 Having to go poop, he's in his crate and I've not heard the "whine";

#3 Hungry and he wants his food;

#4 Being a Rascal and Challenging Me;

#5 When he is outside and wants to come inside (rare) or when he really doesn't want to be in his crate.

When he first came home from a long weekend kennel, he was a little extra barky than normal ... but that has passed.

I don't have an issue with reasons # 1 or # 2 above. # 3 & # 4 fortunately don't happen too often, thank goodness. I tell him Quiet and make him Lay Down.

#5 I Just IGNORE Him and he eventually calms down.

Hi everyone. I am new to the forum and have a golden retriever.

I am seeing that most of you folks on here have German shepherd. Although each dog is different in temperment as well as being soft or hard in the way they handle corrections, I wanted to ask all of your opinions on the way I am starting to control my dogs barking liking she is going to kill someone.

She is a very sweet golden, but lately when I have her on the porch and someone is walking by with their dogs, she goes into a very loud almost agressive barking frenzy.

When she was a pup, I used a shake can, something that she very much respects so I started with using that. When she lets out one loud bark as someone is walking by (and she only does this if they have a dog with them) I say enough and shake the can. I have had to do this only twice and she is starting to mind.

But my question is this, will she bark when it would be absolutely essential, meaning someone trying to break in or if there was really something scary going on outside? I certainly don't want to stop that, I just don't want her barking like an idiot when someone is trying to take a leisurely walk a past our house with their dog. Thanks for any advice...dc

Darlene, I understand your frustration. I think Kelly and I saying the same thing. We made it a command. Sort of like saying "thanks for checking things out for me".

I had to realize people have perfect right to walk by my house and I needed to train my dog to respond with appropriate behavior. I assume these passer-bys are not on your property??
That would be a different story.

Your dog is saying "this is my territory NOW LEAVE!" Normal canine behavior. I reward my dog for the alarm bark not the frenzy bark. Your goal is to get to a point where there is a distinction so you can respond appropriately.

I strongly suggest working on recall command with a leash and prong or e-collar mentioned in my above thread or Kelly's thread.

Are you shaking a can for a correction or to startle? by your post sounds like your dog is not aggressive in other situations just a little territorial.

Foundation work is always crucial too.