Barking

Crystal1 said:
I guess I've been lucky--my last 3 shelties were not much at barking and we lived on 5 acres out in the country. My Dish TV shows "It's Me or the Dog" a dog training show and recently she trained a couple of barking dogs. First she taught them to bark on cue, using her fingers and hands in a puppet position (opening and closing) and saying "Bark". Then she taught them "quiet" with both arms straight and crossing the body. Once they were quiet she would give them a treat, then tell them to bark, and again once they were quiet a treat. She kept repeating these until the dogs learned the sign and word for "quiet". I don't know if this will help or not. Good Luck!!
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How did she get them to bark on cue? If they barked randomly, did she mark the behaviour with a cue and hand signal to get them to associate "puppet hand" with barking? And keep it up till they recognized to associate puppet hand with ok to bark?
 
BarbV said:
How did she get them to bark on cue? If they barked randomly, did she mark the behaviour with a cue and hand signal to get them to associate "puppet hand" with barking? And keep it up till they recognized to associate puppet hand with ok to bark?
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Well, from what I could tell the dogs were very barkie and would eventually start barking just because they felt like it. She did kind of jab her hand towards them and said bark in a loud, happy voice. I would think that if you have a particular instance that makes them bark, such as the doorbell, and you used the hand and verbal signal and said good dog, that they would eventually catch on, especially since shelties are so smart. If I see the show again and will pay more attention and let you know. Good luck!!
 
Now that I've thought more about it, I would think it be like any other thing you trained your dog to do. Once you've given the command and they do it, click and treat, or praise a lot--whatever is your usual method of reward. Just don't forget to teach them "Quiet". lol
 
I'm just not sure how to teach a dog to "bark"! We can train sits, stays, downs, etc. by guiding treats into the position we want. But a bark?

The only way I can think of is with clicker training. :confused2:
 
I Use the word "talk" for mine..I hold a treat they really want and keep telling them to talk until the get mad enough and start barking then I tell them good talk...its takes only a few times till they figure it out. Ive also taught them to sing its a low grumble whine... my new puppy also has a habit since I got her of she moves her mouth but does not bark....She will do it when I move my finger like a duck quacking...its funny to see my neighbor saw it the other day and almost died laughing!
 
Well, this is what I would do: First I'd get my clicker and treats in hand, then I would give the dogs the "bark" hand and voice command and have someone else ring the doorbell. Once they started barking, I would click, say "Good Dog" and treat. Then I would repeat this with someone knocking on wood in the house. And also, do it and have someone turn on the blowdryer. Actually, I guess you could ring the doorbell, knock, or turn on your blowdryer yourself. As you do repeat it with different cues to get the dogs barking, they should learn that it's not just the doorbell, or knocking that gets the click, but the actual barking is what you want. Shelties are so smart, and you do want them to alert you to the doorbell or knocking anyway. You just want them to learn to stop when you say so. Like I said if I see it on the TV training show again I'll pay better attention. Good luck!!
 
Actually, I think I probably did teach my shelties not to bark. I have been on disability for daily migraines for around 20 years and can't stand loud, sharp noises that make my headache worse. What I remember doing is placing my thumb and index finger around the barking dog's nose, so they couldn't bark anymore and saying "good quiet". Maybe that will work too.
 
Caliber barks when he goes outside to...almost like OntarioSheltie said - as if he's announcing his presence. It's like "Caliber - nobody really cares...just go pee, do your dizzy spell circles and get your furry butt back in the house!" He's gradually getting better, I just let him stay out for longer if he's quiet. As soon as he starts barking, it's in you go - with no attention at all. I don't talk or look at him. It's working better now that I'm consistent with it. Even if I know he has to go to the bathroom - if he starts barking the minute his foot reaches the front step - too bad pal, in the house...we'll try in a few minutes. Tough love! So - the longer he's quiet, the longer he gets to play!

After visiting a pet store, I saw signs for different breeds - so I sifted through them and found one that said "Sheepdog Barking Only. All Others Will Be Towed" It was so perfect that I HAD to buy it. It now sits in the dashboard of my car for all to see. :lol:
 
We use a citronella collar, and it's pretty effective. We don't use it all the time, because I just think there are times when Wolfie needs to be able to run and play and bark. But if our neighbors are mowing, or if he's going out late at night or something, we will use it. He rarely barks in the house, so we're pretty lucky. He even has an "inside voice" that is much quieter than his outside voice.

I also don't use it if there are other loud dogs close by, because he can get sprayed for their barking.

It doesn't work with a UPS truck nearby, though. He just plain loses it, citronella collar or no.
 
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