Jedi the Bark-a-saurus Rex

[Danni & Jedi]

I need advice on what to do about this. Jedi makes 2 years old in January. In general he took to training really well. However, over the past months he's become a handful in one area. When we let Jedi out of our house into the backyard, he barks.. A LOT. Our entire house is elevated by 5 feet, and we have security doors, so he can't go in and out on his own and we have to let him out, usually to use the potty or play at least 3-4 times a day (and at night). 

The barking he does is super annoying. It's a howl-bark, he's clearly lifting his voice in a kind of alert. However, there's not always a person or thing around to bark at and he still barks (we've checked). Whether a passing stranger or cyclist (we have a chain link fence), or the neighbor's kids, he won't stop barking. He also won't come when called when he's barking like this (he's not that great at coming when called from the backyard full stop, he's great at it inside). 

I feel bad about it, especially the barking at kids -- now that the house behind us has new tenants and there are 4 kids under 10 yrs old I feel really bad, but I lack control in this area besides hurrying him inside when he gets started. I don't want him scaring these children, especially when he's super friendly when introduced to anyone and LOVES kids (I have large entertainments, he loves playing with kids, even unfamiliar ones). 

I am looking for a training class to work on the come when called thing, but in the meantime, is there anything that I can be doing to stop the barking? Another thing I may do is get privacy screening for the chain link fence (if he can't see it, will he bark?) but that comes at an expense for myself. Any thoughts on how to tame this bark-a-saurus? 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think the only way is to be out there with him while he's being trained.  I would keep him on a long line and try to ignore him...until he barks.  Then I would verbally correct and redirect.  Try to catch him "not barking" when there is a distraction and then praise and reward.  You can also practice the "come" command on the long line.  Let the line go loose and give him the command....if he comes praise and reward....if he doesn't, use the line to bring him to you.  You'll have to practice for awhile, but he'll figure it out.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree with Jane. Someone needs to be out there with him to correct the barking. And with the long line, you have a way to reinforce the "come when called" command. That's important, because you really shouldn;t ever give a command that you can't enforce. Every time he ignores the command and gets away with it, he learns that he doesn't have to obey. 

My guy is 10 years old, and he is still rarely out in our fenced yard without me. I have a corner lot, with lots of dogs and people walking past, and after all this time, I do occasionally still have to correct some barking. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We use an e-collar that is only for barking.  Ours is PetSafe brand.  When they begin to bark at something, they get all excited and seem not to 'hear' you.  I would put the collar on when he goes out and take it off as soon as he comes back in.  We have found that the collar actually 'trains' the dog enough that we seldom use it.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Our daughter has used the collar on her youngest doodle with success as well and now if she just even puts it on him it reinforces no barking without activating it. Hers has a beep that stops the bark. As a matter of fact, our Murphy is staying with her this week and she is using on him as I write this as he isn't used to her corner lot and all its activity either, but with 2 babies in the house, barking is a big no-no.

[Danni & Jedi]

Thanks all for the feedback. I agree that we will have to be in the yard with him - he doesn't bark with us there, generally. Back to the long line it is.