methods or devices to stop barking

[BassetLover**]

is there any ried and tested methods of stopping a dog barking. ive seen the anti bark collar but its way expensive.
i dont mean a happy bark or a watchful bark i mean non stop barking at nothing or no one. bo will not stop no matter what, i put dried peas in a can and rattled it-nothing, i put water and a touch of lemon juice in a spray ottle and spritzed her when she wouldnt stop-nothing. im not trying to be cruel. i love the sound of dogs barking but this is meaningless hour long non stop barking.

[Renee750il]

Between the barking and your other thread about her, it sounds like poor Bo is having some problems. Why don't you PM or e-mail Creature Teacher. Sounds like you and Bo could use some of her expertise. :)

[BassetLover**]

ive pm'd her a few times and ive just sent an email

[Renee750il]

That's good. She's still getting settled into her new place so she might not be as quick as she usually is.

[gapeach]

Some people we knew had their dog de-barked, but I thought it was awfully cruel to put her through surgery just to have her quiet. She sounded like she was coughing or really hoarse. Just thought I'd add it, I wouldn't do it though.

[Doberluv]

Instead of having the mind set of you reacting to the dog's barking with punishment, make an about face turn and start thinking of ways to show your dog how much you like his not barking. What can you offer him that will be appreciated by him for his not barking so much? How can you tell him that barking isn't a bad thing, but he doesn't need to do it incessantly?

My Chihuahuas have a tendancy to bark a lot. They warn me of someone coming up the driveway or someone in the yard. They even warn me if someone is coming along the county road. I've tried to explain that the county road is paid for by tax payers, so anyone can use it and I don't mind, but that didn't quite sink in.

So, I taught them the word, "enough." When they would come up for air, I'd say, "enough" rather firmly. Then I'd say, "goood enough" as long as they were quiet. If they didn't stop for a moment, I'd remove them from the window so they couldn't see the thing that was arousing them. When they stopped, I'd say, "enough." Then reward. You have to prevent them from getting a payoff. If that payoff is self induced (they simply like to hear themselves bark) then you have to distract them and remove them from the stimuli so that the barking stops. Then you can reward. I let my dogs bark for a little bit....a few barks, then I do something to ensure that they stop and then I always remember to reward for that to show them the contrast.

This is not an overnight proposition. It takes time and consistancy. You can't let the barking go on and on as you have. So, now that has become habit. It will take some diligence on your part to undo that habit and replace it with some other activity.

Distract, teach the word "enough" in association with the stopping of the barking, reward for that, give something else to the dog to do which you can reward for. Show him that there ARE other things that will be more rewarding and constructive for him to do with his time, that he gets something good for doing other things, but doesn't for long drawn out barking spells.

[Bulloxer01]

I am sure glad i dont have my problem, my dog never barks. Sometimes i think somthings wrong with him the way he rarely barks.