My dog is ALWAYS barking?

Question

I've had this dog for since she was a puppy. She's 9 years old and she's always barked, but lately her barking has just been getting on everyone's nerves. It won't stop and it's just continuous and my family, especially my mom, is sick of it. She barks both when she's inside and outside. She's a papillon.

I've read online the reason's a dog could be barking and none of these seem like the reason:

Warning/alert: There isn't any danger in our house or around it outside. We're kind of isolated and the few neighbors we have are quiet.

Anxiety: I don't see why she'd be anxious. She has food, water, etc. And it's not a whining type bark

Playfulness/Excitement: No one's down there with her. There's nothing to be excited about.

Attention-seeking: This is the only one I think could possibly be it, but I can't spend all my time downstairs with her.

Boredom/Lonliness: There's another dog down there with her, her "husband." 

Needs exercise: We have a huge fenced in yard for her to run around in, but she doesn't like going outside.

Responding to other dogs: There aren't any other dogs barking.

My dog isn't allowed to come upstairs because every time she does she just goes around peeing on the rugs. We go downstairs and take a newspaper and slap it against out hand, which scares her and makes her stop for a while, but soon enough it starts up again. 

She doesn't like to go on walks because she doesn't like the cold. She doesn't like being outside so when she's let out she stands on the deck, staring at the house while barking. She doesn't like toys. She just barks for no reason. Constantly.

We don't really have the money to go get a dog trainer or anything.

? · Accepted Answer

Let's revisit two key parts of your list (Good solid post by the way)

"Attention-seeking: This is the only one I think could possibly be it, but I can't spend all my time downstairs with her."

Obviously but you can TRAIN her to not seek attention that way.  This is more than likely it.  There is a lot of mental energy that is not being burned off. Invest in some feeder toys and other enrichment items to turn mealtime into a mental challenge as well as provide other things to do

Boredom/Lonliness: There's another dog down there with her, her "husband."

"Needs exercise: We have a huge fenced in yard for her to run around in, but she doesn't like going outside."

I don't like to exercise either but it doesn't mean I don't need it.  A yard is still a cage.  A large percentage of what a dog gets out of a walk is not exercise but different sites, sounds, scents all while paying attention to the person on the other end of the leash.  A lot of mental stimulation there.  A yard, regardless of it's size, is still a cage.  She's a small dog.  Exercise indoors.  Chase, Fetch, Tug there are a million things you can do but it WILL involve spending some dedicated time with your dogs each day.  You can't just give a dog another dog as a toy and ignore them.  You must meet their physical and mental needs.  When you do, they will become calm and rest.

Now, while you're doing all of this, get a pop can, put some pennies or rocks in it and seal the top.  This is called a "rattle can".  Use it to startle/distract the dog every time it barks in the house for no apparent reason.  EVERYONE must be involved and it must happen EVERY time.  With that consistency the dog will learn that "every time I bark, it causes this annoying sound ergo, I will stop barking".

Oh, one key component.  Don't yell at the dog to be quiet.  All you're doing is titling the behavior.  Use the rattle can and title quite when the dog stops barking.  Like anything else we teach our dogs, we get the behavior first, then title it until they make the association.  Only then can we ask for it.   So by yelling "Quiet" at your dog, you're simply telling the dog that is what you are naming her barking.

? · Answer

Your dog is probley being protective!! My dog barks at nothing a lot, a least thats what we thought!! You see, dogs have extremely good eye sight!! 3x the humans eye sight!! So they can up to 60ft farther than us!! My dogs bark at leaves, trash flying around, THINGS WE CANT SEE!!  My dogs think they are really big dogs, but they are really small!! DO NOT TRY A BARK COLLAR ITS JUST CRUEL!! THATS HOW DOGS DIE!! Also,try looking for every small thing that your dog could be barking at!! If your keeps barking, say 'no'!! Dont say SHUTUP!! OR STOP IT!! You say 'no' if they do stop give them a treat!! Hope this helped!! ~~~Taylor

Beth · Answer

Has it occurred to you to use a command when startle her with the paper, like quiet and when she stops say good girl quiet and give her a treat. In time when she hears the word quiet she will stop, but always give the treat to reinforce this command.

Also, dogs need long DAILY walks on a leash. The yard is only for potty, not exercise.

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My dog is ALWAYS barking?

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