There are a few things about dogs that
are guaranteed and barking is one of them. Dogs also will consistently solicit
our attention if we ignore them too long and barking is a great way to get a human’s
attention. In fact this very situation has come to my attention a couple of
times in the past few days with client’s young dogs having learned that when
they bark their human will react. In one case the young handler was
inadvertently looking at her dog right before she looked away, that was enough.
What also was happening that sometimes when the handler would click a behavior
like being quiet the dog would get in a bark at that same moment? Doy, I hate that when that happens!
You must ignore the barking and remember to give your dog
attention for being calm and relaxed. Ignoring means standing up and walking
away, consistently. Ask yourself is your dog getting enough exercise? Is there a nice variety of appropriate
toys? If you are steadfast in your
approach you will notice your dog’s barking for attention diminish. Before the
behavior is extinguished though there will be an extinction burst where your
dog will try harder to get your attention. Stay the course and continue to ignore
the barking and you will find success.
This link below is for a poster called Ain’t Misbehaving and it clearly shows the progression of how we
humans reinforce barking by paying attention to it.
To look at the full sized version of this poster here is the web site:
http://www.yellowdog-australia.k9events.com/images/posters/7416163982_a0026ce0e1_o.jpg
The consequence that is affecting behavior in the
situation of barking dogs is the attention they get from us. If you examine
your barking situation I’m sure you will see how your own behavior is creating
an exciting rewarding consequence [more barking] for your dog through the
giving of your attention. You are then able
to modify your own behavior as you guide your dog to more appropriate behaviors
like relaxing on their bed or chewing on their toys.