Barking...HELP!

[pickleweed]

Hi Guys,

I have a question about barking. My mini schnauzer pup is about 5 months old now and since last month (October) when he discovered his barking abililties, he has been barking non-stop at strangers, people, dogs, sounds. It's getting hard to walk him now because he barks at everyone even people who he seen before when he was a pup. This past weekend when I we had a couple of people over for a couple hours, at first he barked and barked, then he calmed down and stopped. And then he will continue to bark. I have started to use the command "quiet" with him. Whenever he barks at someone, I tell him firmly quiet and make shhhh sound. Sometimes, I'll even have my hand on the side of his head or his mouth to let him know no. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I am not sure what to do because he's been exposed to a variety of people and dogs. So it's not like he hasn't been socializing with other people and dogs. What is causing him to bark like this? And what can I do to train him? HELP!!!



Shi

 

[krisykris]

I'm still working on this w/my two young puppies. It seems once they discover their bark.. the want to use it! I say NO in a firm voice and lightly touch their body to break their attention from whatever they're barking at. It's hit and miss... I think it's more of a constant training. Just be consistent.

 

[pickleweed]

Oh, I have asked the obedience trainer on the barking issue and he has suggested a water spray bottle. Every time, he barks and I have said the command for him to stop and he doesn't, then I spray water into his mouth. If he obeys, then he gets praised and gets a treat. I have tried this a few times as well and it's really a hit and miss with him on this too. Should I keep at this spray bottle thing?

 

[krisykris]

My puppies love rain and water in general so it didn't work with them. Maybe you could use a clicker instead. Every time you say no bark or whatever you say... and he does.. click then treat. That way it stays more positive.

 

[BostonBanker]

Every time, he barks and I have said the command for him to stop and he doesn't, then I spray water into his mouth

Let me start by saying I have no useful information - I'm sure you will get help from others on here. But I do have a bit of a funny story.

I used to teach some pet-type obedience classes. In one of them we had a mini-Schnauzer who was also a horrible barker - one of the most disruptive I've ever seen. The owners also tried the spray bottle technique, and, when that didn't work, they were trying a 50/50 vinager/water mix at someone's suggestion. That poor dog smelled like she was being pickled all the time! Which makes me think that, for this dog at least, correcting with the spray bottle wasn't working . Maybe try posting this on the training board? There are some fantastic trainers here who I'm sure will offer great advice.

 

[ToscasMom]

If he's anything like the two mini schnauzers I had in my life, you may have to get used to it. lol. They were huge barkers.

 

[bubbatd]

I was going to say them same thing !!! Never knew one that didn't " talk " constantly !!

 

[misticaleclipse]

I have heard that the mini schnauzers can be a barky breed, but they say that about shih tzus sometimes to. The key is very very consistent training and nipping it in the bud now.

First I made sure Charlie understood the quite command "quit", then "good boy" along with petting (my dog is not food motivated, but for dogs that are treats work well) . Sometimes you need to very quick with the "good boy" and make sure to get it in only when they are not barking. Your voice needs to be strong and assertive, but no yelling. Eventually with very consistent training EVERY, and I mean EVERY single time they bark they will start to get it.

No laughing when they bark at something, or letting it go at certain times, they need to understand without a doubt that you do not want them barking. You can work on positive barking like when someone knocks at the door after they have learnt the quit command very well. The "cute" syndrome has made many little dogs barkers.

Now Charlie only barks occasionally at night when he hears strange sounds or when someone knocks at the door.

I really really hate barky dogs so I did my research I want to add that I am by no means a trainer or an expert, but this method was recomended by many sources to me and it has worked well for my dog.

Other people recomended teaching my dog the "speak" command. The idea being that once you teach them to speak on commend they should learn to stop on command as well. I would not recommend this. Unless it is done by a very good trainer I have heard that it can back fire and make the barking worse (like they think you like them barking all the time)

 

[krisykris]

I'm paying for my "awe it's so cute, my puppy barks at me!!" mistake I made when I got Bentley. I would bark at him and he would bark back and lick my nose. Now he thinks I like it, so I'm working on training him out of it, aaah.

 

[misticaleclipse]

I also forgot to mention that when I was first house training Charlie he would be in his crate or up on the couch. When I left the room he would start barking. I made sure I only came back when he was quit and I made sure to praise him for being a good boy then as well. I gradually worked up the time to be higher amounts and always gave him praise for being good. This helped him to understand that when he barked he did not get what he wanted, which was to be with me.

 

[Herschel]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Schnauzers. We have a Miniature Schnauzer mix and he loves to bark. He's 8 months now and we grew out of the "bark at everything" phase, but if he's startled at all he barks up a storm.

We're very consistent about telling him "No!" as soon as he starts. We also get his attention by telling him to sit, then down. I've found that he's far less likely to bark when he's in a down.

Herschel's barking has finally become cute again, but it was driving us mad for a while. Good luck!

 

[Melissa_W]

Hi Guys,

I have a question about barking. My mini schnauzer pup is about 5 months old now and since last month (October) when he discovered his barking abililties, he has been barking non-stop at strangers, people, dogs, sounds. It's getting hard to walk him now because he barks at everyone even people who he seen before when he was a pup. This past weekend when I we had a couple of people over for a couple hours, at first he barked and barked, then he calmed down and stopped. And then he will continue to bark. I have started to use the command "quiet" with him. Whenever he barks at someone, I tell him firmly quiet and make shhhh sound. Sometimes, I'll even have my hand on the side of his head or his mouth to let him know no. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I am not sure what to do because he's been exposed to a variety of people and dogs. So it's not like he hasn't been socializing with other people and dogs. What is causing him to bark like this? And what can I do to train him? HELP!!!



Shi

I use the command "Enough" with my Sheltie. If we are in the house, and there is someone outside, I allow him to bark 3-4 times and then say "Enough!". As soon as he's quiet, I reward him. If he starts up again, I do the same thing, and then distract him with commands like sit, down, etc.

As for the barking on walks, has he had much socialization? A training class might help him get used to being around other dogs and people.

 

[pickleweed]

Thanks guys! Very informative! Yea, I know schnauzers are a barky type of dogs. I was hoping with a good technique and consistency, I would be able to train him when to stop barking on command.