Ever find yourself getting irritated by your pup’s persistent barking? The ding-dong of the doorbell, a deliveryman stopping by or somebody walking past Fido’s window-front perch are all triggers capable of setting him off. Don’t despair! There is actually something you can do to help alleviate some of your four-legged friend’s barking. It’s called the “quiet” command and it is simple to teach. In an effort to help you restore some peace and reduce the amount of barking in your home, Better Health for Dogs has put together some step-by-step instructions.
Why do dogs bark?
Dogs bark for many reasons. It’s how they communicate. If your dog is getting what he wants when he barks then he is going to continue to do it. Anything from an afternoon snack to a fun game of chase with his favorite human can get Fido barking. Social barking with other dogs, barking to say hello to humans, attention-getting, alarm, and compulsive barking are all types of barking that you may experience with your pup. Once you have figured out the trigger then you can move onto teaching your dog how to be quiet with a simple command.
What you will need:
- Your dog’s favorite treats – something he loves but doesn’t always get like cheese or hot dogs, for example.
- A little bit of Patience
- A human volunteer (optional)
There are a couple ways you can proceed; either wait for the next time your dog encounters a barking trigger or employ the help of a friend to walk past your house and get your dog to bark.
Step 1: Allow your pooch to bark a few times then say “quiet.” Don’t yell. Stay calm. Your dog can sense when you are upset. This is where you can ask your friend to help by walking past your dog’s field of vision, by pretending to be a mailman for example, and getting Fido to bark.
Step 2: Gently hold your dog’s muzzle closed. Say, “quiet” again. Note: If this seems to upset or make your dog uncomfortable then do not hold his muzzle.
Step 3: Remove your hands from your dog’s muzzle.
Step 4: Walk away from the barking trigger and call your dog to follow.
Step 5: Give him treats and praise.
Step 6: Repeat. Work on this over several days with your pup. You will know that your training has begun to pay off when your dog is quiet when you give the “quiet” command.
Alternate plan – Make some noise!
If you find that your attempts at getting your dog to understand the “quiet” command are not working then you can try to surprise your dog by making a loud or unpleasant sound. A noisemaker, a musical instrument such as a maraca or even an aluminum can filled with coins will work to make a sound your dog will not like.
Step 1: Allow your pooch to bark a few times then say “quiet.” Don’t yell. Stay calm. Your dog can sense when you are upset. This is where you can ask your friend to help by walking past your dog’s field of vision by pretending to be a mailman, for example, and getting Fido to bark.
Step 2: make the unpleasant noise. Your dog should stop barking.
Step 3: Walk away from the barking trigger and call your dog to follow.
Step 4: Give him treats and praise.
Step 5: Repeat. Work on this over several days with your pup. You will know that your training has begun to pay off when your dog is quiet when you give the “quiet” command.
If your pooch persists in barking despite your best and most consistent training efforts, it may be time to seek out the help of a professional dog trainer.
Better Health For Dogs wants to make sure that life with Fido is as happy as possible, which is why teaching your pooch the “quiet” command can help. If you would like to learn more about what happy dog parents are saying about NuVet Plus, check out the NuVet Reviews.