Barking - how to stop it?

I'm not quite sure what's started it but Woody has become a real barker lately.

It's usually when he's tired and hears a noise, anything from a car door slamming to people talking. We also have a terrier living next door who barks non stop which really doesn't help.

The other night he barked for hours at various sounds and just would not stop. It's becoming very annoying.

I'm wondering what people suggest is the best way to get him to stop? If we ignore him will he give up? What about training him to bark and then control it that way?

Is there any reason why he suddenly barks all the time?

Teaching a Speak then a Quiet is fairly easy. But you don`t want to keep getting up to do it it.
I assume it`s because your windows are all open. Maybe a fan on at night? Or a radio if he isn`t in your room? - it might mask the other noises.

The trouble with that is were only in a 2 bed and he sleeps in the room next door with the doors open. It's the same when we're camping (although I can't really blame him for that).

I think knowing the cause for this sudden behaviour might help, but how?

Hi we had similar when Ruby was a pup and having recently moved house she has started barking again because I suppose, there are noises she hasn't got used to yet. We got the citronella collar out that she had as a puppy and straight away her and Dyson stopped barking; obviously it is essential to check out every other option as to why they are barking first but once that has been elliminated they work or Bitter Apple Spray is said to work well too.

It might help if you try to think what might have altered in the environment. Sometimes that throws up the answer

Example:

terrier is new?

terrier has always barked, but now is barking louder as his windows are open/he's in a different room in his house

terrier has had an altercation with Woody which makes Woody more reactive to anything he does

Your own windows are open and so there is far more noise/it's louder/sounds different

And so on!

Also check out different food - treats? etc.

Constant barking (dog next door) can annoy other dogs and make them stressed, so that means they will bark more.

Animals at night - foxes?

My own dog was very stressed out at one cat that kept passing our garden - it made her much more stressed and barky generally! It taught me such a lot about how stress can affect dogs, but that's another story



Hope some of that helps, fingers crossed

Wys
x

am sat here with big bags under my eyes and a short fuse due to not barking, but T being convinced that it is imperative he goes and checks that his garden and perimeter are clear of cats just before it gets light every morning this week. I want it to be cool again so we can have the windows shut!!!!! or else im going to have to ask the nieghbours cat to take a different route home, ie one that doesnt involve going through our garden and rattling the fence/gate

I just get back into bed then the frickin birds start! gahhhhhhh!!!!

the neighbours either side of us have very barky dogs, fortunately T is practically mute! he doesnt feel the need to bark most of the time as they do a great job with out his help.

They've only had the terrier since December but she's recently starting barking all the time. Woody has never met her apart from sniffs through the fence, in fact I've never even seen them walk her, although that's another story!!

When we did a lot of onlead walking with him as a puppy it was winter so was dark in the mornings and dark at night. Everytime a lorry/van/loud car went past he was petrified. We tried really hard to work on this with him with gentle socialising, treats, commands etc but nothing helped. We don't do this with him anymore now as all his walks are off lead, but I'm sure he's still the same.

My theory therefore is that hearing cars, van, doors slamming etc sets him off because of this fear.

So, how do we work on it with him I wonder? It also seems that once he starts barking, he likes how it feels and then just keeps doing it, is this possible?

Yes barking can make them feel good

With mine I just try and preempt - its difficult because their hearing is better than mine - but its strange dogs barking manically that set mine off (which is fair nuff, but my neighbours are &$$holes so I have to have the dogs as silent as possible) So as soon as I hear a dog bark, hopefully before they get the chance to bark, I tell them what great dogs they are and I give them a treat

It works well - the best example is the back gate - they used to run up and bark at the back gate - I call them away for a treat, now often they will see something, start to run up to the back gate to bark then change and come running to me for their treat
They just sort of get into the habbit that going to bark means come to me to get a treat

- I know people swear by the teaching to bark on command so it must work - but TBH it took Ben over a year to learn the bark on command - I think he just didnt figure out he was being rewarded for barking