| note: this is part 2/2 of our article series on how to stop puppy barking, part one can be found here: How to Stop Puppy Barking – Part One |
One of the main reasons why a puppy will bark is for attention. They don’t like to be ignored and while they like to explore things on their own, they really don’t like their owners being more than a few steps away.
Attention barking can be a hard behavior to stop since our first reaction is to say, “Shhh,” or “Quiet.” Unfortunately, when you do this, you teach your puppy that barking will get him attention.
The best way to deal with attention barking is to ignore it. This can be difficult, especially if other people in the house are becoming frustrated, but with a little patience, your puppy will learn that barking does not get him what he wants, which is you.
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If he is in his crate when he barks, don’t run and let him out. Wait until he is quiet and then let him out. If he is barking during play or when he wants something from you, do a quick assessment to make sure he isn’t barking to be let out, and if he isn’t, turn your back to him and ignore him.
When he is quiet, you can turn back and praise him for being quiet. This will teach your puppy that quiet receives rewards and barking doesn’t.
Random Barking:
If your puppy is barking at random times or you aren’t able to solve his barking through ignoring the behavior, then you may need to take a bit more control over the puppy.
First, put a collar and leash on your puppy and then attach the leash to your belt. There are special leads that you can purchase for this but it isn’t necessary.
When your puppy is connected with you, it allows your puppy the opportunity to have some independence but it gives him some limits as well. If he begins to bark, you can correct him by gently, but firmly tugging the leash once and then saying, “Quiet.”
Another way to combat barking is to break the behavior. To do this, you will either need to use a tin can filled with coins or you will need to clap your hands. When your puppy begins to bark, make a loud noise to startle him enough where he stops barking and then say firmly, “Quiet.”
Eventually your puppy will realize that barking is met with a negative experience and will begin to limit his barking.
Click Here to Discover How to Stop Puppy Barking Effectively
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