Basically, you have to teach the dog to bark on
command before you can teach him not to bark. To do that, just
go to him and bark at him in a happy, higher-pitched-than-your-usual
voice and then say "Bark" to him. When he barks, give
him a treat. Do that for at least 4 days, practicing it at least
20 times a day.When you can say "Bark" to him without
having to bark first, practice that for another 3 days or so -
remembering to give treats when he barks on command.
After
3 days in which you've given the Bark command at least 15 times
a day and he's barked in response every time, you're ready for
No Bark. Go to him and give the Bark command; when he barks give
him a treat. Then say No Bark in a lower-pitched-than-usual voice
and - if he doesn't bark within 5 seconds, say "Good no bark"
and give him a treat for that. Don't wait longer than 5 seconds
at first. If he barks, say "Oops" and say No Bark again.
If he'll let you do it without getting hyperactive or nervous,
you can gently close his mouth for a couple of seconds with your
fingers. If it makes him nervous, you'll just have to wait for
your opportunity to reward him for No Barking. If he's having
trouble getting the idea, reward him for just 2 or 3 seconds of
not barking in response to your No Bark command. You can go to
a longer wait for the reward in a couple of days - once he's getting
the idea of what you want - but always remember to say Good No
Bark.
If you need to get him to stop barking when he's
really wound up, get his attention first by speaking to him in
a happy high-pitched voice and have him walk with you a few steps
away from whatever's causing the barking. Does he fetch? If he
does, throw something and tell him to fetch it. If not, you might
want to start teaching him to fetch.
After
3 days in which you've given the Bark command at least 15 times
a day and he's barked in response every time, you're ready for
No Bark. Go to him and give the Bark command; when he barks give
him a treat. Then say No Bark in a lower-pitched-than-usual voice
and - if he doesn't bark within 5 seconds, say "Good no bark"
and give him a treat for that. Don't wait longer than 5 seconds
at first. If he barks, say "Oops" and say No Bark again.
If he'll let you do it without getting hyperactive or nervous,
you can gently close his mouth for a couple of seconds with your
fingers. If it makes him nervous, you'll just have to wait for
your opportunity to reward him for No Barking. If he's having
trouble getting the idea, reward him for just 2 or 3 seconds of
not barking in response to your No Bark command. You can go to
a longer wait for the reward in a couple of days - once he's getting
the idea of what you want - but always remember to say Good No
Bark. 