Really need help with barking

Hi Guys need some help with barking cody is now 8 months old and the last couple of weeks his barking is getting worse he runs out into the garden to bark , its just never ending , he now started barking at my brothers ,hovers ,brushes and now bins im loosing my mind xxx please help xx

Hiya is there anything thats started the barking off? if hes just barking say a firm no and distract him with something pleasant to focus on such as a favourite toy when the barking stops then he has the toy hopefully just getting him used to different things may help cody . Perhaps putting him on a lead going past the items and reassuring him will make this better its important to get cody used to different things it will be better for him as he gets older

There are a few commands that you can teach that will help you. We have 'enough' which means stop whatever you're doing, and 'quiet'. They're actually pretty similar and you teach them the same way, and you could in your situation just use the one. There is also 'go', which is as it says on the tin, go away.

For enough/quiet, you first of all pair the word with a treat, so Cody learns that when they hear one of those words they get a treat. You want to get to the point that, when he hears 'quiet' he will immediately look at you for a treat. This is all without him barking, justs preparing the groundwork.

Once that's really solid, you starting using it when he's barking. Try and find times that's he's not totally fixated on something if you can so it'll be easier to get his attention. You then ask for 'quiet' and, to start off with, I'd stick a treat under his nose so he knows it's there and also to give you a better chance of getting him to you. The second he stops barking, the very second, you give him the treat and tell him he's fab. Repeat, repeat, repeat. If it's not working, then gently take him by the collar or bring his head round to you, and put him in the position of not barking, then reward.

Keep calm, by the way, you want to take energy out of the situation, not add to it with annoyance or frustration (even though it is both of those!).

You might need to use super high value treats, strong cheese, fish, whatever will make him go 'wow!'.

You should find that you can start to give him the 'quiet' from further and further away, and he'll come for his treat. Unlike 'come' you don't necessarily want him to come, so if he does stop barking but doesn't come it's ok to go up to him and give him his reward. Later on you can reduce the treating and only give him one every so often, but to start off with you want to treat each and every time.

'Go' is different. I do it with a pointed finger and really mean 'go away'. Chaos will still love to bark at anything fun especially if it's new), like the concrete breaker we had here the other day, but he knows 'go' means to go away and leave it alone.

I teach this with a massive amount of self confidence and intent, a body block and a thrown treat. Again, starting in a lower energy situation (so maybe just between Cody and a toy), stand between him and it, point your finger away, make yourself big and walk towards him, pushing him out of the way with your body. You shouldn't need to touch him. At the same time you throw the treat to just out of his reach so he is encourage to go and also gets his reward for going in the direction you want. You could use a toy if you want, it depends on what Cody's strongest motivation is.

Enough/Quiet are both 'happy' commands, so with a fun voice, whereas 'go' is a short and purposeful command, not cross, just very clear. We once had a hairy situation with a dog we used to have, Bobbert who would fear attack anyone who came into the house (not badly, just a big jump and a nip). Our builder forgot Bobbert was in the house one day and walked in to come face to face with him. Ben knew about 'go' and used it, he just pointed his finger to the far doorway and said 'go'. And Bob did, he just walked off. Thankfully!

I hope that all makes sense, if it doesn't just ask

Great advice again liz

thank you so much liz will defo try that as causing alot of arguement in my houses lol xx