How To Stop a New Dog from Barking at Your Neighbors
Command training, social training and a combination of the two can be used to stop your dog from barking at your neighbors.Try ignoring your dog's behavior or training it with a clicker or commands.When your dog barks, teach it to sit or lay in the room.If you run into difficulties with your dog, consult a trainer.
Step 1: Ignore the behavior first.
When your dog barks, ignore it completely.Chances are you give it some attention when it starts barking.Your dog interprets this attention to be a form of reward.Don't look at, touch, talk to, or otherwise pay attention to it while it barks.There is a small food treat.Give it a treat when it stops barking.It will associate calming down with the reward if you reward it as soon as it becomes quiet.
Step 2: Do clicker training
Clicker training has proven to be very successful for training dogs and other animals.Rewarding your dog for what they do right is more effective than punishing them.If you click the clicker right when the dog does what they are supposed to and then gives them a treat, you can clearly communicate what their reward is.
Step 3: A command can be used.
When your dog barks, say "Quiet" or "Enough" calmly, and use the same tone of voice every time you give the command.Provide a constant stream of treats for as long as the dog remains quiet, and reward quiet behavior with pea-sized treats.Proceed with this sequence each time it barks, and keep track of its progress over the course of 10 or 20Repetitions.
Step 4: A can of pennies or keys can make a loud noise.
If you can get your dog to pay attention, make a loud noise.Shake a set of keys or rattle an empty can.If you succeed in getting it's attention, give it a treat.The noise training won't be effective if metal is replaced for shouting.
Step 5: Your dog should be given more exercise.
If your dog barks a lot, it might be bored or need more exercise.Add another walk to its daily routine or increase the length of its walks.A combined hour of exercise is required by most dogs.If you combine a half hour-long brisk walk with a couple shorter walks, you can get an hour for that day.Larger, more active breeds need more.Put together an exercise plan that accounts for your dog's health and breed requirements by consulting your vet.Play more games that offer both physical and mental stimulation, like fetch and hiding a toy or treat.When it barks, try to distract it with a toy, have it perform a trick, or follow a command word such as sit or come.
Step 6: Your dog should be taught to sit or lay down.
You'll tell your dog to sit or lay down when you send it to its designated spot.If your dog doesn't already know how to lay down, you'll have to teach it one of these commands.Say the command calmly and clearly.Reward the dog with a small food treat as soon as it gets into the correct position, then physically guide it into it.The association of following the command with a reward can be reinforced by repeating 10 to 20 times per training session.Substitute food with a toy or praise when you are just starting out.
Step 7: When your dog barks, choose a place to go.
Pick a spot that is at least eight feet away from the window or door.You will teach your dog to go to this spot when the doorbell rings or when it starts barking.The doorway of an adjacent room, a mat or rug at the far end of a foyer, or a stairwell with a view of the front door are examples.
Step 8: Command training can be used to get it to go to its spot.
Say the command, show the dog a treat, then toss the treat onto the mat or spot.10 to 20 times.Pretend to throw the treat to the spot after about 10 reps.As soon as the dog gets into position, toss the treat.When it goes to its spot, don't give it a treat.It's important to say the same thing every time.
Step 9: Continue with spot training.
You should say the command and your dog should follow it.When it can reliably go to its spot, mix it up when and where you give it the command.Give the command from another room and reward the dog when it gets to its spot.
Step 10: Sit or lay down, add it to the spot command.
Once it is in position, tell it to stay or lay down.When it gets to its spot, give it a pea-sized reward.Give a small food treat if you say "Sit!" or "Lay down!".This sequence is repeated 10 to 20 times each day to reinforce the spot and sit or lay down command combination.
Step 11: Get your dog used to new smells and sights.
Command training can be effective in changing behavior, but social training is the best way to prevent barking problems.If you have a puppy, start introducing it to people as soon as possible.Make a good introduction to your neighbor.If you have to, have your neighbor give your dog a treat when it stops barking.If your neighbor tells your dog to sit and offer a treat, it will be more likely to follow the command.
Step 12: Be consistent and patient.
Command and social training can take a long time.Everyone in the house should know what commands your dog understands.The command words should be the same as the tone of voice.Don't say things like, "Who's that?" if you want your dog to bark.You can get up to look out the window.If you say a command word to your dog, you should not yell at it when it barks.If you yell or say no, your dog will think that you are barking, which will reinforce the noisy behavior.
Step 13: If you need help, get in touch with a trainer.
If your dog isn't responding to commands or social training, consider getting it a private trainer or a veterinary behaviorist.Ask your dog-owning friends and family for a referral.A Certified Professional Dog Trainer is a board Certified veterinary behaviorist.Check their websites for their certifications when choosing a trainer.Ask trainers if they have any current clients who can give testimonials.To find a quality trainer or behaviorist, go to either of the websites.