Clicker Training To Stop Barking?

[GSD FAN]

i have a problem with my dog barking constantly at our neighbours. i try to recall her but cant seem to get her attention. if i go to grab her and drag her away from the fence she runs away and keeps barking. i have found that the only way to get her attention and recall her is to click a clicker. i dont use this clicker for anything else. can you use clickers for positive punishment??? or can i use the clicker to train her to speak and when to not speak??

[NaturallyWild]

Using the clicker can be used as an interuptor (i prefer to use quick hand claps that have been conditioned to a reward as you generally won't have a clicker with you all the time - i assume you have hands ) to break off the attention from the barking. You can then reward away from the fence when she has stopped barking and giving you some attention. If you are persistant enough with this you can get your dog to come running to you for a reward before the barking starts - in response to what normally triggers her to start barking has now become a reward marker. You can then start fading how often you reward (or with what you reward).

[GSD FAN]

thanks for the reply. i have tried clapping my hands. it just doesnt seem to work. i know its difficult to train against as im not there all the time but when i am with her (as shes outside)i have the clicker within reach and can click when shes still barking as she is continuous in her barking and jumps at the fence.

[BaaabyFlynn]

hang on

the clicker is a marker of correct behaviour

in normal circumstances if you click a dog that is barking and you are rewarding the behaviour

since you arent using it for training you may as well use it to distract her, but what if you want to do clicker training later?

the click is NOT pp unless there is something undesirable associated with it - such as

click - drag her away from the fence

Why is she barking?

What is triggering it?

My dogs dont bark at the neighbours when they are out unless they are right up against the fence

[NaturallyWild]

thanks for the reply. i have tried clapping my hands. it just doesnt seem to work.

You need to build up an assocation with your hand claps to something really fantastic like food or toy (just like trying to prime the clicker). Do this in a situation where there is little or no other distractions initially. You want to be getting her to give attention eagerly when she is not intensely focused on anything in particularly (including yourself). Repeat it a lot so there is a history of great things happening when you clap your hands, then try and apply it to this situation

The reason i suggest hand claps instead of clicker is as BF said, what if you want to utilise clicker training later.

You can use a marker for PP just as you can for PR (or NP and NR). What i described is not using PP as it sounds like you were not using it in the first place (or effectively anyway).

I forgot to add that with this technique you need to be aware of not using it for "attention" barking as it will continue the barking occuring - but it definitely doesn't sound like attention barking here.

[BaaabyFlynn]

I prefer a whistle - now Im not bird charmer but I can do a nice clear whistle and if I have my hands full - say with washing - it's easier to whistle than to clap lol - but whatever you use as NW said - prime it. I also challenge you to prime a clap - where you gonna put the treats hehe