I have a 13 week old westie boy. He loves to bark for all sorts of reasons - need to go to the loo, excitment, play, "I'm bored", "I'm in my crate and I don't like it". I don't tell him off if I know  he is barking for a good reason ie need to go to the loo, but there are times when he will just bark and bark. I have tried various ideas, ignoring him, putting him in the kitchen, putting myself in the kitchen, holding on to him and saying "no bark" but they all make him bark longer and harder. A friend said get a spray bottle and fill with water and give a quick burst followed by "no" I tried this tonight and it seemed to work but it does rely on having the bottle near to hand to do it quick enough to work properly. Does anyone have any other ideas which could be applied quickly and easily?

The water spray is working for us in the car.  Car is a bit damp at the moment.  Do not have the problem anywhere else but it is the only thing that worked for us.  Our dog loves water and I thought it would be ineffective but it must be the indignity of getting sprayed at - it works for now and I have only being doing it for a couple of days and crossing my fingers it will work long term.  Drove about aimlessly all weekend to train her - cost me a fortune in petrol but it is working so far.  Sounds nuts but you may have to walk about "armed" or leave numerous sprayers around.  The things we have to do. We must be mental !!
Rick

Yes perhaps I should take out shares in water bottles. It was funny last night because the darn thing wouldnt work when I tried to spray it! The kids were in fits of laughter, Rory was so bemused that he stopped barking. I think he also knows that if I hold the spray I am waiting for him to bark and he won't then when I put it down he starts! Little devil!

He's probably getting confused because sometimes barking actually gets him what he wants (ie, he gets let out) and sometimes it just gets him attention (all be it not positive attention).  I think you need to teach him an alternative method of getting your attention when he wants to go out (such as ringing a bell hanging from a door handle or hook - this has the added advantage that you can take it with you if you go away and take him with you, and you won't risk disturbing the people in the next room.......).  Then, when he barks for other reasons, distract him by clapping your hands, call him to you, run through a quick 'sit, down' routine, and give him a treat - this helps to break the 'I Bark, I get attention without having to do much else' routine, and avoids the possibility that you'll have to drown your car and him turning the water spray into a game ;)

how do I get him to ring the bell?

Hi JuneH

You could try buying and then emptying/rinsing out small Jiff lemons to "squirt" instead of a water spray bottle - they are smaller, easily hidden in the hand, and you can carry in your pocket too :)

Re training to ring a bell, I train mine to "high five" to ask for something - anything basically - so if you can train that, which is one step up from offering a paw, you can then teach them to hit something with their paw.  My friend has taught her youngster (litter mate of my own) to use his nose to "prod" for a desired object so either of these courses of action could be adjusted to sounding a bell.

HTH, regards, Teri   

I use that method on mine and just have bottles strategically plced around the place.

They most often bark if next doors terriers bark at pasersby that they can see but mine can't.

i recently had to use the water spray since the recent thunderstorms my 10 month old bullmastiff has developed a passion for barking at the tiniest noise(very deep bark)it only took 3 sprays and now she looks at me as though to say im not barking please dont squirt me lol.
problem solved.

i am gonna try that i hae a 20 week old bullmastiff who likes to bark at anything, my oldest bully dosent so why she does god only knows, i will go and get a water sprayer now and give it a go as it drives me nuts. thanks

Remember you want to set it to squirt not spray/mist. :D

Be careful about using aversives to stop behaviour that may be brought on by fear - it may stop the dog barking, but the next time you have a thunder storm you may find the next behaviour in your dogs repetoir might be even less desirable (like digging up the carpet or bed, defeacating or simply being terrified.......)  Far better to distract your dog from the noise and praise it for being quiet.  You can also get sound CD's from a variety of sources which will come with full instructions of how to use them to desensitise your dog to all sorts of sounds, from road drills, children, thunder, washing machines, and hoovers.

HTH