How to Stop Demand Barking (and Why Most People Make It Worse).
Imagine a loud incessant noise continuing on for 15 solid minutes. That was an experience I had with a dog that came in for training. One of her issues was barking. Demand barking to be exact. If she wanted to eat, bark-bark-bark. If she Wanted to play, bark-bark-bark. Anytime there was a want, bark-bark-bark. Outside of her general training (basic obedience, off leash work) this was a major pain point with her owner because she couldn’t escape the barking.
What Is Demand barking?
Demand barking is exactly as it is read, barking to demand something. This happens when the dog learns that barking leads to getting something they want. The severity depends on how ingrained this behavior is, how often it has worked and in what contexts it has worked. The most that it is practiced the more it is reinforced and seen as a valuable option to getting what is desired.
How Most People Make It Worse.
The mistake most people make when their dog is demanding something is giving in to the barking. For example, the dog is barking at you to throw their toy, so you throw it. The barking just work and was just reinforced. The more that happens the more the pathway is solidly as a viable option and the dog will get quicker and quicker and going to the go to move for what they want…..barking. The next thing people do to make it worse is trying to ignore it, but give in. When this happens the dog learns to be persistent but they know the human will eventually give in. In both contexts, the human succumbs to the dogs requests let’s them know that barking does in fact work to get the thing of desire.
How to Actually Stop It.
The most simple way to stop demand barking is to ignore it. That’s right, ignore it. It may take a while, it may test your patience, but it will work. The barking has created a pathway to getting something so if the pathway changes to lead to nothing the behavior will extinguish itself. A lot of dog things operate on effort and result. The dogs puts effort in to something and if the result is good or beneficial it will do more of that. However, if the result is not good or not beneficial it will do less of that. In the multiple cases of working on demand barking, ignoring the barks stopped the behavior within a few days because the barking led to nowhere. The hardest part is being prepared to withstand the barking but if you can do that you can overcome the demand barking hurdle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid.
Don’t be so quick to think the barking has stopped. It could just be a pause. Wait for the dog to disengage with you before doing anything. For example, Your dog brings a toy to you and starts barking at you to engage in a game. Wait for them to do something else, they may start to sniff the ground and move away from you and the ball, once they do something like that, get their attention and start a game of play. This time though, it is on your terms.
Make sure everyone in the house is onboard and prepare to follow through. If everyone is doing the same thing, the same picture will be painted and the dog will understand that barking doesn’t lead to what it wants. If everyone is doing something different and the barking is still being randomly reinforced it will continue.
Not being prepared for the barking in all the contexts it shows up in. It could be playing, being picked up, or wanting on the couch. It could be for food or to go outside. Be prepared to tackle all of these areas which could require setting your self up for success by anticipating the barking happening.
In The End
Resolving demand barking will take a bit of time depending on the severity and how the feels about you. Your relationship will play a big factor in how persistent your dog is and will be. Be prepared to change what your do in order for your dog to change what they do. If you keep doing the same thing so will your dog.