Need help teaching a young mini-schnauzer to bark less!?

Well then, my dog must be traumatized, since he's a miniature schnauzer, and he doesn't bark a lot.

I've taught him to bark once at people outside, then come to me (I still want him to give off *one* bark - to let me know there is someone around). Basically, I taught him the "come" command first, then every time he barked, "Come", treat and praise when he did. Now, he barks once and comes to me.

I've also taught him a "shush" command, along with a hand signal for it. When he is getting excited about something, and getting ready to bark, "shush", treat, praise.

There are two points to this - first, it's easier to train a dog to know when to do something (like bark once at someone outside) then not to do it at all - especially when it is something that is so inherent to the breed. Second, it's easier to keep a dog calm with a well-timed "shush" command than to attempt to calm him *after* he's revved up.

Hope this helps, and have fun with your dog!

Add: and he's not debarked, and I've never used collars that shocked or sprayed. He is crate trained, but, in my opinion, that doesn't really work for barking, since they can still bark in the crate. Dogs can also bark with a muzzle on.

Hi, the most humane way is to use a Aboistop Anti-Barking Unit, this is one of the rare collars that do not give your dog an electric shock. Every-time the dog barks it sprays a cold spray onto the dogs neck and it teaches the dog not to bark. They aren't very expensive either! Look at the link in the sources list! This works for any dog!

There's a couple of options. If you have a crate that the dog doesn't usually stay in use that as a form of timeout, when he barks, Admonish him first then put him in the crate for about five minutes, and do that as a continual form of punishment. If you don't have a crate find a small area like a bathroom and use that instead. Other options which are also possible is to buy a muzzle and put it on him when he barks. In an extreme case and I would never recommend this but there is a procedure used in show dogs where large amounts of dogs are kept is to de-bark them. Which means surgically removing the voice box in the dogs (common in shelties). It's a pretty penny to do it at the vet but it will ensure quietness. But like I said only in extreme cases like your going to be kicked out of an apartment of something along those lines.

We've had one for over 13 years, and we still can't get her to shut up! :(

We've tried barking collars, spray collars, spraying her with a water bottle when she did, thumping her in the nose... And nothing worked. Good luck finding someone to answer this! (I'll be watching.) lol

well they have these collars that spray a sent that they don't like and its supposed to keep them from barking, but this costs about 100.00 to 150.00

or they have this dog house type thing that send out a sound only dogs can hear!

this probably cost 50.00 i am just guessing but they probably have it at petsmart if you want to try it!

Well thats what schnauzers are about, Your never going to stop this dog doing what its bred to do unless you traumatize it.