Raising Puppies

What to Do

To stop excessive barking, choose a cue for quiet behavior. It can be "Quiet," "Hush," "Shhhhh," or whatever, as long as you and your family use the same cue every time for this specific action. Think of situations that are likely to get your puppy to bark. For example, does she bark when someone comes into the house? When you're preparing her dinner? To teach her to be quiet, she needs to engage in barking.

Step 1:

a) Hide a treat in your hand.
b) Perform whatever action triggers your puppy's barking.
c) After about three barks, give your cue "Hush." Don't yell it. This is information, not discipline. She doesn't know what the word means yet, so yelling won't make it sink in faster.
d) Hold the treat near your puppy's nose so that she can smell it. She will stop barking to smell the treat. The second she stops barking, mark "Yes!" and give her the treat.
e) Repeat a couple times, then take a break and repeat the exercise later in the day.

Step 2:

a) After your puppy has successfully stopped barking several times in a row, it's time to wean her off the treat in your hand. Repeat the exercise without holding the treat, but have it nearby. Just say "Hush" and wait. Don't repeat "Hush! Hush! Hush!" Just patiently wait for the barking to stop.
b) The second she stops barking, mark "Yes." Pick up the treat and give it to her. You can gradually work up to not having the treat nearby.

Troubleshooting: What if your puppy doesn't stop barking for the treat? Either the treat isn't good enough to outweigh the fun of barking, or your stimulus was too exciting. For example, the sound of the doorbell can send puppies into a tizzy. So, if you're using the doorbell sound as an introductory way to teach your puppy not to bark, then it may be too much at this point. Try another trigger, and work up to the doorbell.

What if your puppy stops to eat the treat, then goes right back to barking again? Show her another treat, say "Too bad!", and turn and walk away. She'll learn that she only gets one chance to earn a treat, and that she gets no attention for continuing barking.