Quote:
Originally Posted by baddog
My last dog never barked unless there was a reason. Can't say the same for this guy. . . . . of course, what I consider a valid reason and what he considers one could vary substantially.
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I worked on my dog for the first few years of his life to get him to curtail his barking. I just knew my neighbors would not take kindly to me having a dog who barked his fool head off all the time.
Whenever I'd be playing with him when he was a pup he'd get so excited that he'd eventually start yapping loudly. Whenever he did that I'd stop playing with him immediately. It took a while but he eventually got the idea that he should keep his mouth closed or else playtime is over.
I also muzzled him a few times once he got to be close to fully grown (at around 2 yrs or so). Only for a short time, but he'd be barking in the back yard at someone walking by and I'd go out and stick that muzzle on him for 15 or 20 minutes, and he very soon got the idea that I wanted him quiet.
The times when someone came directly on my property were the times that I not only allowed him to bark but quickly rewarded him for it with a chew snack or something.
He learned eventually. Yours will too I'm sure. You strike me as a pretty responsible dog owner.