<p>Hi guys, I am a seasoned dog person and my two older dogs, who I raised from puppies, are now 12 1/2 and 13 1/2 Westie terriers. We got a 4 month old westie last week. He is adorable, doing fairly well with the crate training/housebreaking, has a loving personality and is very smart BUT, he has just started to bark uncontrollable at everyone and everything (mostly outside). He barks at the fire hydrant, the tree, and of course any of my neighbors who jog by or stop to say hello. I am quite sure that my neighbors don’t like all this racket at 6:45 AM on a Sunday am!!! I let him bark for two barks, then say allright, that enough but he won’t stop, ARGHH. </p>
<p>What is the best way to teach a 4 month old pup that it is ok to alert us but not to make such a racket!</p>
<p>Good question. I’ve never had a nuisance barker…possibly holding his mouth gently closed as soon as he barks, looking him in the eye until you have his attention, and saying NO very firmly? It works with biting. :)</p>
<p>I tend to think that you have to not allow even the two barks. I doubt that he can make the distinction.</p>
<p>When the puppy barks, gently hold his his mouth closed for a count of 15 seconds. Do this whenever he is barking near you. Gently! </p>
<p>It is also possible to growl at him before you do this, if you don’t feel silly doing this.</p>
<p>There are all sorts of recommendations other than this, but most of them just seem like cruelty to me. </p>
<p>You can grab him like his mother would by the scruff of the neck (again without being agrressive or angry) and hold his mouth shut for a count of 15 seconds.</p>
<p>good luck. </p>
<p>My youngest sometimes just barks because we are all talking and he is chatting too. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>We finally had to resort to a “bark” collar for our chocolate lab, who lives outside and barks only to beckon anyone she sees to come play with her. We only use it for occasions when the neighbors are having an outside party, etc, or when we have workers over doing something outside. She’s learned, however, how to test to see if it’s on, if she’s been wearing it frequently. She makes progressively louder “ruff” sounds until she makes a real bark to see if it’s on. </p>
<p>Her “mean” bark is much different sounding, and we know something’s up when we hear that one…i.e. face offs with angry raccoons, skunks, opossums, and occasional things that go “bump” in the night.</p>