How I would I discourage future excessive barking?

Figure out what is causing the barking and address the problem.

If it’s to get attention, don’t give attention for the behavior. If it’s because the pup is bored, provide things to entertain it. If the puppy is barking for food or water, or needs to go outside, try to anticipate these needs before the puppy has to bark.

Sometimes puppies bark at night when the feel alone or scared, especially at first. You might need to work at making it feel more secure until it gets used to its new environment.

If the barking continues, using a small water bottle to spray at the face can be enough to make the pup understand that this is not acceptable behavior. Be sure to tell the puppy verbally what you don’t want it to do. They do come to understand if you repeat the phrase.

They really do want to please you, so use that part of your nature and give it lots of attention and encouragement when it behaves appropriately.

It’s a puppy so it’s going to be a spaz a lot of the time. Best you can do is act consistently. It may take some patience as is often the case with dogs but you have to be the one in control.

If you’re crate training, NEVER use the crate as a form of punishment!! Don’t throw him in there, toss a blanket over it and walk away. First, it’s cruel as hell. Second, the sog will fight you as long as he lives every time he legitimately needs to be in his crate. His crate should ALWAYS be a place of comfort and solace.

First, is this a guarding, herding, or alerting breed? If so, then you’re basically punishing the dog for doing what it was bred to do. Learn hand commands, a clicker trainer, and plenty of treats in your pocket TO REWARD POSITIVE RESULTS. I can’t stress that enough!! If the only attention you ever get is negative, how does it make you feel?
Reward the good stuff, and make your puppy happy and devoted.

Next, everybody needs to be on the same page with this puppy. If there are a houseful of people, everybody needs to know how to respond to negative and positive Every. Single. Time. This keeps the puppy from being confused from mixed signals. A confused puppy gets into trouble, even when it’s not his fault. That feels really bad :(

As for the barking itself, I suggest a citronella collar. Each time the dog barks inappropriately, remotely command a quick mist of citronella from the reservoir on the dog’s collar. It won’t hurt them a bit, but they don’t like it.

@Phillis A citronella collar. What a unique idea. I’m going to remember that one.

@snowberry Thank you, my friend!

Just lecture him sternly about it (and wait six months). Poppies bark – it’s their job.

I’ve heard of a product called Bark Stop . It makes a loud ultrasonic noise when the dog barks.
My neighbor had one but it didn’t work for his older dogs.

Send it back to the pet shop and get a cat? Seriously, dogs are terrible :P

Some breeds are more prone to be “barky” than others. One trick is to teach your puppy the “Speak” command. This is easier with a dog prone to barking as you can catch them doing the behavior and reward it. From “Speak,” you can then teach the “Quiet” command and your dog will know what you mean rather than hearing you correct him/her for not following a command the dog does not yet know.

@DarkScribe Poppies bark – it’s their job

Now that is novel – a barking poppy!! LOLL

@partyparty Now that is novel – a barking poppy!! LOLL

The perils of dictation software…

You and your puppy need to begin obedience classes (they have classes specifically for puppies). The two of you will learn how to interact, how to understand each other, and you’ll get insight into his behavior. The more investment of time and training that you make, and the more advanced classes that you take, the better pet you’ll have over the course of his lifetime. You should also structure play time and activities to keep him stimulated and happy.

syz has it right on the money. Socializing dogs can have alot more benefits than just teaching them how to sit. When you take dogs to any of those (there are many types) socializing classes, they learn that other people and other dogs aren’t something to be weary of. This way, if a person, car, dog, and sometimes a stray cat walks by your residence your puppy/doggy won’t go ballistic and start barking. The other thing to take note is that dogs take touching as a reward. Even if it’s just picking them up to move them, they think they are getting rewarded. Sadly, some dog breeds are bred for protection. So there might be no avoiding the barking. But like I was saying, if your puppy begins to bark excessively, IGNORE him, lol. I’m serious, unless it’s a burglar crawling into the window ignore him. When a dog barks for no apparent reason and you give it attention, they think that barking at the mailman/a jogger/stray cat/leaves falling/blank air is the right thing and they will get rewarded for doing it. I’m not a dog doctor or anything like that, I just have experience with big dogs. Dogs don’t understand the concept of yes and no. But they do understand good and bad (or wrong or right if that’s your forte). So you have to use your puppies natural instinct against him. Barking is instinctual for dogs, that’s what they have done for centuries on end. But training your puppy WHEN to bark is the best plan of action. It’s like teaching your child not to talk in class when the teacher is talking, talking is instinctual to humans, but there’s a time to talk and there’s a time to be silent. I have more info but I think I’m taking up eveyrones Fluther space, lol