Dog Barking - any advice.

[Vikki89]

We have a JRT who likes to bark at everything. He goes out in the garden and runs up and down barking the majority of the time, out on walks he barks til we get so far up the road and when he is put back on the lead after having a run, he also barks at things on the tv (we seem to be making slow progress with the tv).
Any ideas on how to stop or reduce the barking? (have tried a rattle bottle and squirty bottle of water)

 

[littlebranshill]

The rattle bottle is usually very effective but you need to get your timing just right. You can buy small training discs that you could throw at him. When you are taking him for a walk does he start barking when you put your coat on? If he does then take your coat off and don't take him. Leave it 5 mins then try again. Eventually he will get the idea that if he barks he wont get his walk. My friend tried this with her spaniel. It took 4 hours to get out of the house the first day - 2 the second and a few days later he was cured! You have to set aside enough time, obviously so try it on a day when you don't have to be somewhere! Good luck - Patience is a virtue!!

 

[CAYLA]

I would remove him from the room, no talk jsut get him by the collar or pick him up and remove him, leave him out a few minutes then allow him back in, again no fuss, if he start again remove him, repeat this, he should eventually get the gist he only gets to remain in the room with u if he stays shtum.

 

[CorvusCorax]

How do you react? And the other people in the home?
It is important to remain very calm when training a dog not to bark. If you get excited and hyper and frustrated, then the dog will feed off that and it will make the situation worse.
Pots and pans and car keys and rattle bottles and squirting her, even a battery operated collar all did bugger all for my female.

What did work was being calm, being firm and letting her learn that barking got her nothing except a long, low, firm, vocal reprimand (initially backed up with a loud noise - I either banged once on the window/postbox/front door and gradually phased it out using only the voice) not barking met with a reward.
You have to catch him at the first attempt - not halfway through a barking frenzy. The minute my bitch opens her mouth without good reason, she is stopped. Once she starts and is not reprimanded, why would she stop? I have already 'allowed' her to do it!

Would you say he is nervous? Exciteable? Insecure? Bouncy? Agressive? What is his personality type?

ETA - Cayla's advice is good too, as always! My bitch was not in the house at the time.