Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or simply to show their pleasure. Instruction and life style are important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with its master. Dog's will learn and respond to instruction so if you reward or encourage barking in any way he will certainly continue to bark. The best thing is to figure out what your dog is trying to tell you and go from there.
If you have a dog that barks excessively, try to figure out what he is trying to tell you. If it is out of need for attention, the way to interrupt the cycle is to wait for him to be silent and then give him the attention he wants. By acknowledging the barking, you bolster it. Waiting until he quiets will teach him that he gets attention when he is not barking.
Some dogs are extremely defensive. If anyone comes into their vicinity even if that is across the road they will bark to warn that human being or dog that they are intruding. The best way to stop this is to distract him when he starts to bark. You will typically be able to get his attention with a treat. Every time the bark cycle is broken, it sends the message that silent will get the most reward.
Taking the time to discover what your dog is communicating will result in less stress for both you and him. He will get much needed attention and you will get quiet. It’s a situation you both win.
Don’t Let Your Dog to Walk You
Be Unpredictable
Making speedy and abrupt turns in the opposite route anytime your dog starts to get ahead of you will teach him to pay attention to where you’re going. Praise him lavishly when he returns to your side and even reward with a small treat if your dog is food motivated. The idea is to stop the pulling before it even starts by catching him off guard. Keep your cool, there are no situations where getting excited and angry is helpful.
You may have to turn around forty times in the first session and barely make it half way down the driveway, but don’t worry, it will get better the more you practice. Many canines catch on quickly to this game and start to watch their owner closely to see what they’ll do next. A dog that’s paying attention to you isn’t pulling on the leash.
Set The Rules
And stick to them! Conclude once and for all that you will not allow him to pull and then respond anytime he tries to move ahead of you. Keep a close eye on him and correct every misbehaviour while rewarding his good behaviour. Allowing him to pull sometimes but not all the time will only confuse your dog. Look at your next couple walks as instruction experiences, not exercise. Once your dog gets the hang of it then you can start to plan on moving past the driveway.
Practice, Distract, and Practice Some More
Teaching good leash walking skills is an ongoing process. You may always need to ‘be unpredictable’ every once in a while even after your dog understands what you expect. Keep him on his toes and keep practicing. Don’t be stingy with the praise, permit him know when he’s doing the right thing and you’ll start to see more of that behavior.
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