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How do you get a Chihuahua to stop barking?

How do you get a dog to stop barking all the time. I have a chihuahua and he barks at everything. Sometimes he barks because of a noise he’s heard. I have a little one and it’s so hard to deal with his barking, especially when my baby is trying to sleep. Any advice before I’m tempted to get rid of him. Don’t get me wrong, I love my dog but he is driving me crazy.

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Answer #1

Hi,

Mostly, problem barkers bark because they are bored. Accustomed to a lot of attention, they don’t know how to behave when alone. More often than not, we have set this up ourselves. We want our dogs to be happy, so we spoil them: our dogs get treats and petting whenever they wish. It is entirely normal for owners to act this way and entirely normal for dogs to complain when they feel neglected.

I’d put a little water in a Dixie Cup and quietly stand in front of the barker, not saying a word. Within a minute or two the dog would bark again, whereupon I’d immediately dash the water in his face, turn around and go back to bed, all without saying a word. I’d usually have to do this two or three times the first night, once or twice the second night and maybe even once the night after that. Nearly always after the second or third night, peace and quiet.

“Quiet” repeated calmly and clearly once or twice in a normal voice will teach your dog to associate the word with water in the face and with not barking. Later, in situations where he would ordinarily bark but stays quiet instead, calmly praise him.

I work in a Humane Society where hundreds of dogs are in cages every day because owners gave them up instead of working to train them or help their behaviors.

Good luck.

Answer #2

did you try spraying him with a water bottle when he barks? I dont think they make those antibark shock collars that little, but they make a more humane citronella one that sprays a citronella spray dicouraging him from barking

Answer #3

i own 2 chihuahuas of my own and have had some in the past. The best trick that i have learned is to take away their favorite toy or not give them any of your attention for about a 1/2 hour. This will let them know that this behavior is a bad one and they should not do it.

Answer #4

He didn’t used to be a yippy dog. He just started when we moved into our own house. He used to be my mother in laws dog and we took him when we moved out of her house. I forgot to mention we tried the rocks in a can thing but he realized that the can won’t hurt him, after he tried to eat it, and just kept barking after he realized that.

Answer #5

Get him/her in truble every time he/she barks, but DO NOT hit him/her and make him/her go in the house WITH OUT picking him/her up. make him/her understand that he/she is being disiplined. praise him/her for going in the house. a petting is good enough. if u give him/her a treat every time he/she does what u say then the dog will occiate(misspelled) u will food and wont under stand when u dont give him/her a treat.

Answer #6

Chis are yippy dogs. Thats common sense. Something most people don’t think about when they are blinded by the cuteness

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