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Warning: Yelling at my dog for barking just made him think it was a game
I had a real issue with my dog, Buddy, barking non-stop at the mailman. I kept shouting 'no' every time he did it, hoping he'd stop. But honestly, it seemed like he barked more after I yelled. I mean, maybe it's just me, but I realized my reaction was like attention to him. So I switched to completely turning away when he barked and giving treats when he was calm. After a few weeks, he started to quiet down on his own because the fun was gone. It's a simple fix, but it totally changed how we handle noise now.
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bailey.nancy7mo ago
What did you do about the treats when he was calm right after barking? Timing that right is so hard.
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troyc277mo ago
Wondering if we make this timing thing harder than it needs to be (seriously, dogs aren't watching a stopwatch). I just keep some kibble in my pocket and toss a piece when my dog takes even a half-second breath between barks, being kinda loose about it works fine.
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xena7677mo ago
Hey @bailey.nancy, I read that you should reward the silence right after barking (timing is tricky, for sure). Some folks use a marker word to make it easier.
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elliot_bailey7mo ago
Ever try ignoring the bark completely? Yelling just makes it worse. I used to shout at my dog too. He thought it was playtime. Now I walk away or busy myself. When he stops, even for a breath, I reward him. Works way better than any noise I could make.
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