Pups learnt to bark- and is doing so a lot?!

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poiuytrewq

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I'm keen not to end up with a really irritating yappy dog so how's best to cope with this?
He first woofed on Sunday and since then it's been quite regular!
I take him to work with me and although he's loose on the yard I put him in a travel cot whilst horses are being washed off etc so he's out for 45 mins then in for 10 to let the next lot go. This has worked well until yesterday he just barked! I don't want him to p' my boss off!
Then 5am this morning, and just generally if he's not getting sole attention.
Help?!
 
never go to him when he is noisy, never tell him off or respond at all, don't even look at him when he is noisy. you have caught it early and need to start as you mean to go on. barking = no attention/recognition, quiet = positive re-enforcement, verbal praise/going to him/treats and being let out.

I would check that he is warm enough in the playpen and has somewhere to hide away in there-I would put him in there long enough for a sleep if he is warm enough, also make sure there are chews and things to do in there and don't ever use it for punishment, it needs to be positive so pop him in give a biscuit.
 
Is he with you/someone else all the time, then at the yard, he has a blast, then all of a sudden, you leave him?
If so I'd up the amount of time you leave him when you are at home, beginning with ten minutes here and there, and as mentioned, always make it a positive thing.
 
You don't say what age the pup is, so my answer is "It all depends".

If quite young, I'd probably stumble out of bed and pop the pup outside on the lawn for five minutes.

If older, and the barking is more nuisance than attention seeking for a valid reason, I'd buy myself a water pistol and teach correlation between "Be quiet" and a squirt of water.

All mine here were trained to stop barking when told. Except for the GSD (the only dog I've even kept in the house) who was trained to bark to be let out for the toilet (as above)….and, now she's mature, if she hears the alarm call of my free range hens when there is a fox about.

Most dogs bark for a reason and it is usually a matter of working out what that reason is. If mine do it just to gain attention, they find there is no profit in it! Some dogs are neurotic barkers (English setters?) and they can't help it.
 
Mine was barking at uilleann pipes on the TV last night. I see his point!!! He's a 'barker for fun' and I found teaching him the difference to 'speak' and be 'quiet' was quite useful as I don't want him never to bark.
 
Hi, Thanks for the replies. Yes I'm on the yard all the time with him, he literally gets popped in the play pen just until the risk of being stood on is gone again!
He's 5 months BUT has only been with me for 3 weeks, previously was in a kennel so is only just getting the hand of house training and everything else I think most puppies do earlier than him.
To be fair he's been pretty good this morning and I didn't use the playpen as he was sleeping the couple of times horses were coming and going.
He has blankets and toys all the time whether on the yard or in the pen.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Hi, Thanks for the replies. Yes I'm on the yard all the time with him, he literally gets popped in the play pen just until the risk of being stood on is gone again!
He's 5 months BUT has only been with me for 3 weeks, previously was in a kennel so is only just getting the hand of house training and everything else I think most puppies do earlier than him.
To be fair he's been pretty good this morning and I didn't use the playpen as he was sleeping the couple of times horses were coming and going.
He has blankets and toys all the time whether on the yard or in the pen.
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Was he in a rescue kennel type situation? Do you think he might have got into the habit of barking there?
 
Hi he was from a breeder. A good breeder who we had out last dog off but he was the last of the litter to leave (due to other problems) hence being there til 5 months. As far as I understand the dogs there are kennelled much of the time but they are working dogs. I think this one was maybe overlooked a little- you know, let out for a run round a few times a day but that's about it. He's just totally coming out of his shell since being kept in a house with a family.
He was totally silent until last Sunday!
 
Just interested - what breed of pup is it. Definitely try ignoring first but sometimes with the more vocal breeds just ignoring the yapping is not enough and there needs to be an unpleasant consequence for the barking. I'm not saying shouting or smacking, but you could try something like stamping your foot or a 'rattle tin' full of noisy coins - anything that will make him jump and think twice about it. It will be 100 times more effective though if he doesn't realise you have made the noise or distraction. It will work best if the dog thinks it is an Act of God that happens when he is yappy and annoying. I have used a spray collar once before for a yappy dog because like you I was worried she was pi**ing someone off (my neighbours) and it was really effective. Only used it for a couple of weeks and shes 11 yrs old now and only has the odd bark for the postman etc so has solved the problem long term. I would first try all the above advice first though like.
 
Please do not use a rattle tin or spray him with water, as has been suggested, he has only been with you a few weeks and you want to build up a trust with him, not make him scared to come near you or become hand shy. As CC says, work on teaching him to speak then the command 'quiet' and work on him getting used to not being with you. It's all very new for him, he just needs to understand what is allowed and what is not.
 
Teaselmeg said:
Please do not use a rattle tin or spray him with water, as has been suggested, he has only been with you a few weeks and you want to build up a trust with him, not make him scared to come near you or become hand shy. As CC says, work on teaching him to speak then the command 'quiet' and work on him getting used to not being with you. It's all very new for him, he just needs to understand what is allowed and what is not.
Click to expand...
Agreed, as I said, try ignoring etc first. But some dogs just like yapping and get carried away doing it and it becomes self-rewarding so sometimes negative consequences are needed. I know a lot of people are very against any sort of sprays or gadgets which I totally respect but when you get in trouble with your boss or your neighbours sometimes you have to consider other options - after the obvious training options have been attempted. Also sometimes when people teach their dogs to 'speak' it backfires and they just bark so they get told to be 'quiet' and you go round and round in circles. Not saying it wont work, just be wary of it's limitations.
 
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