Tips to Stop a Terrier Mix From Barking for Attention

For this Hancock Park dog training session, we stopped 6 year-old Schnauzer mix Banner from barking at guests and sounds outside his home using counterconditioning and developing his ability to focus.

Banner started barking at me as soon as I came into his home. I ignored the behavior as the dog’s intention was to provoke a reaction; me paying him attention. We call this demand barking and responding to it is something you never want to do. Unfortunately correcting is probably the most natural reaction for most people when their dogs bark for attention.

I asked his guardians to avoid disagreeing and correcting him while I shared some positive dog behavior tips that will change the dog’s perception of its authority in the home. Adding in rules, consistently enforcing them and adding in structure will all be needed in order for Banner to stop his demand barking behavior.

A great way to stop a dog from barking is to redirect its attention before or right as soon as it starts. To help the guardians more easily redirect Banner’s attention, I showed them how to train a dog to focus. This is a technique many of the best dog behavior experts use.

I teach this exercise differently than LA dog trainers who usually hold the treat up to their forehead to lure the dog to look up. Dog behaviorists prefer to create scenarios where the dog discovers the behavior on their own. Plus the way I teach this dog training exercise can also stop production of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Teaching a dog to focus on command is easy, but it takes a lot of practice in a week or two period of time. If the guardians practice this exercise with him a few times a day, every day, they should find it easier to call his attention away from things he may bark at or for.

Another positive dog training tip I shared with the guardians was how to use counterconditioning to stop unwanted dog behaviors like barking at sounds or other dogs.

We were able to use this same counterconditioning technique outside when we headed out for a short walk. The guardians have the perfect setup in this Los Angeles neighborhood to stop Banner from barking at other dogs right down the street from their house. Id like to see the guardians practice this counterconditioning exercise every work day for 2 weeks between 4:30 and 6 PM when many dogs will be getting walked by their guardians.

To help the guardians remember all the dog behavior secrets I shared with them in this in home dog training session, we shot a roadmap to success video.