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6. Learned Barking:
Because dogs naturally repeat behaviors that have been rewarding for them in the past, learned barking is barking that a dog has learned will elicit a specific response, usually as a result of reinforcement from their owner.
Some examples of learned barking include attention seeking, barking at the back door to be let outside, barking at their food bowl to be fed, or barking at the dinner table to be handed a snack from your plate.
How to stop learned barking:
Learned barking should not be reprimanded. Instead, you should reinforce a more positive behavior to the dog, something that does not involve barking.
To stop learned barking, you’ll need to teach your dog to use more appropriate ways to communicate. For example, if your dog is barking as a way to attract attention, rather than respond to his barks, ignore them and only give your dog attention when he’s not barking.
If your dog has learned to bark at the door to be let outside, teach him an alternative behavior instead, perhaps just sitting quietly by the door or ringing a bell. Only open the door to let him outside when he’s giving an appropriate behavior and never in response to him barking.
Likewise, if your dog barks at his food bowl, or barks at you while you’re eating, ignore him until he’s calm and quiet, and then reward him by providing what he’s asking for.
In the same way that you may have inadvertently taught your dog to bark to get what he wants, you can teach a more appropriate behavior. It will, however, require being observant and consistent and no longer giving in to your dog’s barked commands.
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Ben
Dec 25, 2016 at 11:19 am
Noreen dogs are nocturnal, although they have been domesticated by human beings however they have many similarities with their closest cousins – wolves. Activity including barking can increase during night since basic traits and basic features make them do that. The best you can do for your dog and your grand daughter is to get your dog a few activities in the daytime so that he is tired dozes off in the night for that take help of dummies for dog training. Besides change the lighting pattern of the place where your dog is at night and observe which lights soothe him not to bark.
noreen
Oct 21, 2016 at 1:47 am
My 3 year old labrador retreaver barks at night a short as i call it a call bark have tried talking, hand signals leaving him but he eventually stops for a while then starts up again. He sleeps outside has since 9 months old, cannot come indoors as my son is allergic to dog hair, i think he is lonley i have to stay with him and do treat him to keep him quiet i know its wrong but i have to keep him quiet or he wakes my 2 year old granddaughter up. During the day he is quiet or barks to let me know someone is there i am more than frustrated, i understand he must listen but he will not be able to stay. I play with him during the day and give him as much attention as possible, any suggestions.