How to stop barking?

[Leanne]

This isn’t a massive issue but I just want to check that I’m doing it right really.

At home Mas rarely barks. He doesn’t bark at the door etc (we aren’t including the barking at night as that seems to have stopped)

At school however... if I get stopped in a corridor to be asked something, Mas will sit next to me beautifully, he waits about 10 seconds and then he barks.. which I ignore... when he’s quiet next to me I treat him and treat him every 30 seconds or so whilst he’s sitting next to me. If I don’t do this and ignore it... he barks once and then waits.. then barks again etc.

I’ve been reading about the teaching him to speak and then teaching him quiet.... I’m just unsure of treating the very behaviour I don’t want?

I don’t mind doing the treating every few seconds.. that’s not an issue as it’s oart of his daily food (all his food is training food during the day) but I just want to make sure I’m doing it right!

 

[Atemas]

This is how we are doing it here - when Red barks, we say ‘Listen’. To start with we were saying ‘Listen to that, that’s .......’ but now we find just the word ‘listen’ stops her. If we hear a noise before she does, we look at her and she will look at us and doesn’t bark. This technique is working really well but it has taken time (Red is 19 months but she didn’t bark until she was 6 or 7 months). No treats are involved. I suppose it depends on why Mas is barking - attention or alert barking. Red’s is alert barking so our technique might not be appropriate.

 

[Leanne]

oh it’s 100% attention barking. Very much look at me.. helllllooooo I’m here sort of thing lol

 

[snowbunny]

I would up your rate of reinforcement for being quiet, and vary it more. So sometimes 5 seconds, sometimes 15. Make it unpredictable. He’s still only a baby and learning not to be the centre of attention is hard.
I would also practice a “settle” cue which means “we’re going to hang out here and do nothing for a while. This doesn’t involve you”. A good cue is standing on the lead, if it’s long enough. Practice it out and about, in the school corridors, playground, in the high street, in the park etc. Give your settle cue and then just stand there, not treating or making eye contact for a few seconds, then give your cue that it’s time for him to be involved again, like “let’s go” and be on your way. Build up the time gradually.

I wouldn’t do the teaching to bark to stop barking because that’s thinking about behaviour rather that addressing the “why”. He needs to learn to increase his frustration tolerance.

 

[Leanne]

Thanks @snowbuddy that’s actually what I do in assembly (step on the lead) and he never barks in assembly. It’s literally ONLY when I’m talking to someone. He did it yesterday at the market when I was buying something.
The great thing is I’ve now got 6 weeks off to train this!

 

[JES72]

Just like the kids. they can sit still when they want to but it's "Miss!, Miss!!, Miss!!!" the rest of the day.
Enjoy your Summer break.

 

[Charlie]

I agree, standing on the lead is a very useful cue. When I am at functions with Hattie as a PAT dog I need her to be still and quiet. She lays down by my chair, I stand on her lead and I don't look at her, she can't have treats either. Every now and then she gets a reassuring stroke from me. She attends Christmas dinner, afternoon tea etc. When I am talking to staff, families, patients etc. she knows to sit/lay down which she does without any issues at all. I know she's a grown up lady but she had to learn this for her work which we have been doing for 2 1/2 years. Good luck!! xx