Charlie, a patterdale terrier of 5 1/2 months was a bit of a barker from very early on. He isn't so bad now except in the back garden, Ella his Mum has now also started barking in the garden. I've tried spraying them with a water pistol which does work, the minute i appear they stop but they still bark if I am not in the garden or can't get there quick enough. Charlie will come in a soon as he is called, Ella only comes if she hears the tennis ball being bounced - but i'm worried she sometimes goes out to bark so she will be rewarded by the ball! They go in and out of a dog flap. 4 other gardens ajion ours so its often when they hear something in another garden. They don't do it all the time and I try and stop it immediatly but i dont want it to annoy the neighbours. How can i stop this?

We muzzled our dog for around 5 minutes anytime he started barking non-stop. Only had to do it for about a week, and and now we can just say, "Do you want the muzzle?" or show it to him, and he stops. We would only muzzle him very briefly, around ten minutes. He doesn't bark nearly as much as he used to.

Having a breed that is expected to be able to keep up barking for several hours when holding Elk at Bay, it was important to teach them when barking is unacceotable.

I actually learnt how to prevent this with my first dog a very highly strung Belgian Shepherd. She used to run the fence line screaming, if she so mush heard the nieghbours back door click to open.

I partitioned my Garden (It was also so that the Children and I had part of the Garden guarantreed poop free!!).

The dogs have the first 20 feet. This mean as soon as the Belgian opened her mouth

Having a breed that is expected to be able to keep up barking for several hours when holding Elk at Bay, it was important to teach them when barking is unacceotable.

I actually learnt how to prevent this with my first dog a very highly strung Belgian Shepherd. She used to run the fence line screaming, if she so mush heard the nieghbours back door click to open.

I partitioned my Garden (It was also so that the Children and I had part of the Garden guarantreed poop free!!).

The dogs have the first 20 feet. This mean as soon as the Belgian opened her mouth I coyld get her inside!

Doing this each and every time, meant that she learn barking would restrict her garden access!

When I got the Elkhounds, knowing that they can be noisy if not trained, I took the same tack. I also use the water pistol too.

Even if my dogs run outside barking because someone is at the backgate/front dood, they shush straight awaqy if I shout quiet.

they dont bark nonstop so the idea of restricting the garden length sounds excellant. I'll try it an let you kno how we get on. i'm still open to any other ideas!

Thanks Roma