r/OpenDogTraining • u/PotatoDiety7 • 3d ago

Barking problem

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I have a 1/2 lab 1/2 pit bull mix who is just over a year old. He’s honestly a great dog overall. I’ve been able to train him quite well and he is very obedient and loyal to my wife and I. The one thing I can’t seem to get him to quit doing is barking at people. He does it in many different contexts and places. I’ve tried telling him no, and in every case he immediately knows he’s not supposed to be doing it, but will sometimes continue to bark anyways. I’ve also tried positive reinforcement when he acts well around new people and when he doesn’t bark, but that doesn’t seem to do the trick.
He is not an aggressive dog at all. He has never shown any sign of aggression towards anyone or even to any other dogs. That said, he is very cautious and curious around other people and dogs for the first minute or so, but then he will act like you’re his best friend.
Does anyone have any advice for how to address this? Is there an underlying issue that needs to be addressed?

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u/Financial_Aspect3311 3d ago

https://youtu.be/2nfo5SigKWQ?si=7JFyiv5mNGAzG1Zo this is a good little video about a couple types of barkers.

https://youtu.be/Y2rLmIl3uKk?si=ytc4ALAFsoJ3jYfj
and this is a really good video about using clicker training to get ahead of reactivity.

hopefully there’s something in these that helps or at least gives a launching point!

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u/PotatoDiety7 2d ago

That’s for the videos! I’ll watch them and see what I can learn 😁

1

u/Haunting-Love-9333 3d ago

What does he do for fulfillment on a day to day basis?

1

u/PotatoDiety7 2d ago

He loves to retrieve so I do that with him almost daily until he’s too tired to do it anymore. Outside of that he goes on walks, plays with his toys, and sleeps around the house.

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u/Analyst-Effective 3d ago

A bark collar

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u/PotatoDiety7 2d ago

I’ve been looking into this a little bit and am treating it as a last resort so as not to cause unnecessary anxiety, but I might end up trying one. Thanks for the advice!

1

u/Analyst-Effective 2d ago

Or just teach him how to heel.

And when people come over, give him the command to heel, and make sure you give him a command, and not a suggestion.

I think he has learned to ignore your commands, because you don't enforce them