It was dark outside. I could barely see Justin playing around in the backyard. I'm always wondering, do dogs see well in the dark? Barking at my neighbor's dog every single day. What can I do to make him stop barking? On humanesociety.org, I found six ways for dogs to stop barking:

1. Remove the motivation
Your dog gets some kind of reward when he barks. Otherwise, he wouldn't do it. Figure out what he gets out of barking and remove it. Don't give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior. (Example: barking at passersby)

2. Ignore the barking
Ignore your dog's barking for as long as it takes him to stop. That means don't give him any attention at all while he's barking. Your attention only rewards him for being noisy. Don't talk to him, don't touch him, and don't even look at him. When he finally quiets, even to take a breath, reward him with a treat. (Example: barking when confined)

3. Desensitize your dog to the stimulus
Gradually get your dog accustomed to whatever is causing him to bark. Start with the stimulus (the thing that makes him bark) at a distance. It must be far enough away that he doesn't bark when he sees it. Feed him lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer (perhaps as little as a few inches or a few feet to start) and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things (treats!). (Example: barking at dogs)

4. Teach your dog the "quiet" command
It may sound nonsensical, but the first step of this technique is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to "speak," wait for him to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say "speak." (Example: someone at the door)

5. Ask your dog for an incompatible behavior
When your dog starts barking, ask him to do something that's incompatible with barking. Teaching your dog to react to barking stimuli with something that inhibits him from barking, such as lying down in his bed.

6. Keep your dog tired
Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on his breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.




I told Justin to come inside the house because it was too cold outside. As he came in, his paws were covered in wet dirt. He left foot print on the kitchen floor. I wonder what my mom's reacting was when she saw the foot prints.



I mentioned on my last blog that Justin loves to go outside. I always keep the door closed because it's to cold outside. I see Justin standing in front of the door wanting to go outside. He came back inside a few minutes later. Then two minutes later, he wanted to go outside again. I hate it when he does that.


  



                                                         Works Cited
N.a. "How to get your Dog to Stop Barking: Six Ways to control your Dog's Barking."  humanesociety.org. N.p. 31, Oct. 2014. Web. 21, Nov. 2014.