puppy barking uncontrollably

[HansPeter]

Good afternoon!

I have a 15 week old bassethound puppy that sometimes won't stop barking. He doesn't seem to bark at anything specific, though it mostly occurs when he's playing by himself or directed at me and the family. The barking doesn't seem aggressive but simply just annoying to listen too. What can I do to help this issue? Any suggestions would be so helpful!

 

[Adrienne]

Hi Hans Peter,

Hounds can be quite noisy companions! Their barking/baying is so loud, and it's because they were selectively bred to announce the presence of rabbits from a distance. Their excited barks though are not very convenient for modern-day living especially if we live in a close-knit neighborhood. I hope you have understanding neighbors.

If it happens when he's playing by himself, it may help keeping his mouth occupied. Maybe you can skip the food bowl and let him go "hunt" for his kibble by hiding it around the yard or home in a treasure hunt fashion. This also provides an outlet for a dog's natural behavior (scavenging, hunting). Here's how to train it:

 https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/elementary/the-treasure-hunt/

or maybe you can try feeding his kibble in a Kong or by shaking a bottle around:

https://www.braintraining4dogs.com/members/brain-training/high-school/the-bottle-game/

When they barking is directed towards you and your family, firstly evaluate whether there is some unmet need. Can he need to go potty? Is his water bowl empty? 

If not, it may be he's barking because he's bored, under-stimulated, and looking for something to do. If the moment your dog barks you immediately look at him, talk to him, or get up to check what’s the matter, it could be that his behavior falls into the attention-seeking category. Dogs who bark for attention typically do so while they’re looking at the owner—and they’re usually hoping the owner will interact with them.

Whether the owner scolds the dog for barking or reacts with warmth doesn’t matter, because any form of attention will do, even the negative type. So if your dog looks at you and barks, he’s likely not barking at anything, but just barking to get his daily dose of attention!

In this case, it's best to ignore your dog’s barking behavior, as any type of attention fuels this type of barking. One method you can try is to get up and leave the room every time your dog barks, then come back and interact with him only once he’s quiet (expect some extinction bursts though along the way, where thebarking behavior gets worse rather than better, but keep it up ignoring and he'll soon learn that it gets him no where).

Also, try offering your dog more mental stimulation and exercise throughout the day to prevent from the barking arising in the first place. If you are away for most of the day, consider going for a walk (check with your vet if he hasn't yet finished all his vaccinations) or playing a game of fetch when you get home. Hiring a pet sitter or a dog walker may help to meet your dog’s needs if you are unable to.

I hope this helps, 

Let me know if you have other questions.

Best,

Adrienne