Consistent training can help change a dog's barking behavior.
Dogs bark to communicate and have different reasons for their barking. Some bark because they are afraid of other dogs. Some dogs bark as an alarm when they hear noises that frighten them. Other dogs may bark to get attention. For the dog that barks for attention, ignoring the behavior works best. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it can take some time to teach your dog to bark less, and it's not realistic to think your dog will completely stop barking. Be patient when training your dog to bark less. Make sure you are consistent and positive.
Instructions
When Your Dog Barks at Other Dogs
1. Arrange for a friend with a dog to stand with her dog far away and out of sight.
2. Have your friend and dog start to walk toward you. As she starts to do so, give your dog lots of tasty, special treats. Feed the treats to your dog until your friend and her dog have passed you and are again out of sight.
3. Stop giving your dog the treats when your friend and dog are no longer in sight.
4. Repeat this training until your dog no longer barks when a dog passes them by. Be patient. This training could take weeks before your dog is no longer fixated on another dog.
5. If you find your dog is still barking at other dogs after a reasonable amount of training, contact a professional trainer for help.
Teach the "Quiet" Command to Stop Barking
6. To teach your dog "quiet," you first need to teach "speak." Give your dog the "speak" command as someone else makes a startling noise, such as knocking on the front door. This will most likely get your dog to bark.
7. When your dog has barked two to three times, put a special treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to smell the treat, give him lots of praise and let him have the treat. Repeat these two steps until your dog barks when you say "speak."
8. Starting in a quiet, calm situation, give your dog the "speak" command. When he starts barking, say "quiet" and hold a special treat in front of his nose.
9. When your dog has stopped barking, give him lots of praise and reward with him the treat. Repeat over and over until your dog has learned "quiet."
10. If you find the dog still barks after repeated training with the "quiet" command, contact a professional trainer for help.
