My dog is 7 months old and just started barking at normal day to day things quite suddenly. For example for the first time today he barked non stop at the dog next door with his hair up, also got worked up over the dogs barking at him on our walk, usually he just ignores them. He also barks at me when I am busy doing things. Like he wants attention. He barks on command and I have been working with "hush" as a command to stop barking. My question is how do I work with him to stop the nuisance barking but not totally kill his voice. I would like him to know to bark when hes genuinely concerned but not end up with a dog who barks all day/night.

These are kinda different things, I think (reacting with both hackling and barking at one dog, versus barking at you).

More info, though:

The dog next door: How does he see him long enough to bark non-stop (and hackle)? Is it just passing by on walks?

How are you going about teaching "hush"?

Dogs barking on walks -- he is just barking back, or hackling, lunging, etc.?

Yah the barking at me is in a much different way/sound/demeaner that barking at the other dogs. He couldn't see the other dog only hear/smell her through the fence. Hes not out there much and neither is she so this may have just been the first opportunity. On walks he is fine, except when a dog barks at him he starts hackling and barking. not really lunging. He gets a long with all dogs when he meets them. And this just started yesterday so its all new. Also when I was shutting off lights and getting ready for bed last night he kept wanting outside to growl this low growl I never hear from him and bark. The only noise I could hear was another dog barking far off in the distance. but I am not sure? Maybe he suddenly got the territorial bug

BUMP any help?

 Quote: Kristi Molina

Yah the barking at me is in a much different way/sound/demeaner that barking at the other dogs. He couldn't see the other dog only hear/smell her through the fence. Hes not out there much and neither is she so this may have just been the first opportunity. On walks he is fine, except when a dog barks at him he starts hackling and barking. not really lunging. He gets a long with all dogs when he meets them. And this just started yesterday so its all new. Also when I was shutting off lights and getting ready for bed last night he kept wanting outside to growl this low growl I never hear from him and bark. The only noise I could hear was another dog barking far off in the distance. but I am not sure? Maybe he suddenly got the territorial bug

Kinda hard to figure out something new, or that happened once ... particularly when they all sound like unrelated situations. So more questions.

What do you do when a dog barks at him on walks? If the dog is in a yard, do you simply march calmly on past?

When he was growling and barking two nights ago and wanting to go out, did anyone check around the house? Did you put on outside lights, etc.?

When he was barking at the dog next door, was he loose/alone in your yard?

Barking at you if it just started; should fade pretty quickly if you give him absolutely no response when he does it and are mindful of only initiating any activity with him when he is relaxed and quiet.

If you have been responding with even something as simple as a "hush" command; the behavior has been reinforced and will likely get worse before it get betters as he tries harder to get your attention with the barking because it worked before. Stand strong and do not give attention.

Have you done any marker training with him? I think marker training would help a great deal in marking the point he gives up on the attention barking. Another option would be to crate him when you are busy in the house.

He's still a baby so I would not expect perfect obedience but the other barking seems like it could be handled with basic obedience training. For instance calling him to you away from the fence and having him heel with attention when walking by other dogs etc.

That being the goal realize at 7 months you start in the least distractive environment and build on successes so it might be awhile before you can call him away from the fence with the distraction of another dog but keep a long line on him so that you can reel him in with praise and a FABULOUS reward when he gets to you.

My almost 5 mo old Bichon has started the same stuff, including dogs on TV. It seems to have coincided with her first rabies shot and starting to lose some teeth. I'm trying to ignore the barking as much as possible. Outside I turn my back to her and move away, won't look at or turn to her until she is quiet then I tell her good quiet and give her a treat. Inside I tell her hush or shhh once and then ignore her. So far it hasn't really stopped the barking but it seems to have shortened the barking sessions. I figure she's just finding her voice and she's still a baby.

I'll be watching for ideas from others.

 Quote: mariellena simon

My almost 5 mo old Bichon has started the same stuff, including dogs on TV. It seems to have coincided with her first rabies shot and starting to lose some teeth. I'm trying to ignore the barking as much as possible. Outside I turn my back to her and move away, won't look at or turn to her until she is quiet then I tell her good quiet and give her a treat. Inside I tell her hush or shhh once and then ignore her. So far it hasn't really stopped the barking but it seems to have shortened the barking sessions. I figure she's just finding her voice and she's still a baby.

I'll be watching for ideas from others.

"As much as possible" isn't good enough.

If you EVER respond, you have trained the dog that "it might take a real uproar, but eventually I will get a response" or "sometimes this works, sometimes not -- worth a shot!"

What do you do when a dog barks at him on walks? If the dog is in a yard, do you simply march calmly on past? YAH JUST IGNORE THEM AND KEEP WALKING. HE IS VERY EASY TO WALK.

When he was growling and barking two nights ago and wanting to go out, did anyone check around the house? Did you put on outside lights, etc.? YAH WE BOTH WENT OUT AND CHECKED EVERYTHING. ONLY THING I COULD HEAR WAS A DOG BARKING A FEW STREETS OVER. I DIDN'T CORRECT HIM FOR IT OR ANYTHING. JUST CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT AND CAME BACK INSIDE WITH HIM FOR BED.

When he was barking at the dog next door, was he loose/alone in your yard? HE WAS LOOSE IN OUR BACK YARD WITH ME OUT WITH HIM. HE'S NEVER REALLY ALONE OUTSIDE. AND WE HAVE A WOOD FENCE ALL THE WAY AROUND OUR PROPERTY (WHICH IS SMALL).

I know him barking at me is just trying to get our attention. Spoiled pup. I will start ignoring it. =) I do marking training with him, so far just sit, down, place, speak (where he found his voice oops), leave it, come. Some with major distractions (like at the vet) where he actually does really well, but no real corrections yet. Which is probably a whole other thread, but I think I need to start introducing some kind of correction for ignoring commands because he ignores me unless he is really hungry and I have a great treat in the middle of a training session. If I just randomly tell him to go to his place or lay down hell totally act like he doesn't know what I am asking. but If I start a training session he's ready and willing. Even though, I have treat bowls all around the house so even if I throw a "place" at him randomly he would get a treat 100% of the time right now. If that makes any sense.