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.

4 comments

4 Comments

bailey.nancy1mo ago

What did you do about the treats when he was calm right after barking? Timing that right is so hard.

troyc271mo 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.

xena7671mo 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.

elliot_bailey1mo 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.