Barking, growling, woofing

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

This is the type of thing I would normally ask our trainer's advice on but we do not start classes again until Feb. 28 so I'd really like input from my wise DK friends!

Maddy turned 10 months old yesterday and for the past month or so she has been barking, growling, or woofing at things all the time. We really do not like this behavior because we live in a small apartment and need to teach her that she cannot bark when the mail man comes, she hears the neighbors' dogs outside, snow is being shoveled off the sidewalk, someone knocks on the door, etc. She also barks at the TV; she notices just about every single dog on TV whether it's commercials or actual shows. She even notices the Meow Mix cat! I've noticed that Maddy has become increasingly more vocal and I'm fearful of it escalating beyond what she does now.

I really don't want to mute Maddy's voice completely but is there a way to teach her when it is/isn't okay to make noise? She also wines dramatically when she is super excited and wants to greet another dog/person but isn't allowed because of her uber excitement. I tell her to "hush" when she does this, if she's persistent then so am I and I tell her to "hush!" more strongly. The biggest issue I'm having is that when she is outside and sees/hears something off in the distance, she will charge to the end of her leash and bark (I think this is excitement?) but she won't pay attention to me.

Sorry this is so long winded! But any advice?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I know there are many opinions on this subject. I did talk to my trainer a couple of months ago when Guinness first really discovered his "voice". I was also thinking that we could teach him appropriate versus inappropriate barking. I was thinking it would be a good thing if he barked because there was a stranger outside, but really didn't want him barking indiscriminately. Her view is that you can't have it both ways. You are okay with barking, or you're not. If not, then you need to train the dog that barking is not acceptable. So, we decided no barking. It's been a work in progress, but he's now really good about barking for the most part. The biggest challenge for us has been with all the snow maintenance workers who plow our driveway and shovel and sand our walks. They are working right outside the doors, and Guinness really doesn't like that. Everyone has their own way of correcting. Guinness is very responsive, so all I have to do is get between him and the door and move him back just by walking forward. I give him our correction "sound" sternly. He will usually quiet right down, but if not I give him a "touch" which he knows means to stop the behavior. It isn't at all rough...just a physical reminder. Over the past few weeks there has been almost no more barking. I believe it was a territorial guarding behavior, but he needed to learn that's not his job. I know some people are comfortable with that, and actually encourage it, but because we are in a condo, that just wouldn't work here. Guinness does whine/cry when he's in a sit or down command in stores or where there are people around that he wants to "meet". Again, I give him my "no sound" and wait until he's quiet and calm before I release him. That behavior is excitement with very different motivation than the "guarding" barking.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

Do you mind me asking what your "no sound" signal is? Is your "touch" at a special place on his body. I had this trouble w/ my last dog and don't want Sheila to start it. Especially the guard barking, which I have found can get worse as they age.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I use my "NO" sound for every correction. It's kind of like a "UHHH" but in a louder, very firm tone. This sound always gets his immediate attention. I've used the same sound since the day we got him. I give him a "touch" with my finger tips on the side of his upper body - kind of like a gentle poke. I read it's similar to what their Mom's did to them as a puppy with their teeth. It doesn't hurt at all and it just reminds him that "I mean business" and stop what he's doing. Again, I've done this since day one. Usually the sound alone gets his attention. If he's in a really excited state the touch is just a reinforcer.

[Leslie J]

One of the many puppy books I read when Cocoa was a baby (I think it was Cesar Milan's Perfect Puppy) recommended that a dog be taught that one or two barks (to warn the pack... now I'm quite sure this must have been Milan's book) were okay, but then it must stop.

I thought it was a neat idea (hopefully it will work in the real world!) and am trying to do it. Cocoa has just started barking when she's looking out the front window. I let her bark twice and then say "okay, Cocoa". If she barks more, I say quiet, SHHH! I haven't done it long enough to test, but I'm hoping it will work.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have found with our doodle that she is much more sensitive to noise than any other dog we have ever had. She hears every noise, footstep, peep, etc. in our house. I bought a fan ( long and narrow) that I use at night and when she is in her crate. This seems to mute the surrounding noise and she sleeps right through lots of things now. I know this does not answer the underlying question you are asking, but it is a tip that works for us.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Okay, my trainer told us to teach "no bark" or "quiet". She told us if Peri is on a barking tear, to say "quiet" or "no bark" in a gentle, but quiet voice. The second she stops barking say "Yes" (or click your clicker) in a high pitched voice and give her a treat. She has been barking like nuts lately, so last night we spent a lot of time on this. She was getting riled up because it was Taquito's bday and he had a special treat (she had finished hers already and was jealous). Every time she would stop barking and pay attention to us we would click and treat. We also put her in a down-stay to get her calm and concentrated on us. We ended up with 10 minutes of quiet time so Taquito could enjoy his treat. She is starting to catch on. I personally do not want to say quiet every time, because I like it when she alerts me to someone at the door. I want her to be on patrol for us. But I don't like it for no reason and that is when I use this technique. I need to work on it more!