CANINE
The Three Bark Rule
In Part II of our feature on problem barking, Diane Garrod presents a useful and effective
n the first part of this article, Dog Speak - The Language of Barking (BARKS from the Guild, January 2016, pp. 41-43, I examined canine communication and presented some tips on how to manage and prevent over-barking. As promised in that article, I will now explain in greater detail the “three bark rule.” Although there are several ways to prevent, manage and train your dog not to bark, the three bark rule technique shows how easy it is to diminish and even eliminate non-alert barking without using aversive methods. The three bark rule establishes that it is okay to alert bark. Dogs use barking as a communication tool and do not bark specifically to annoy people. The Dogs use barking as three bark rule shows the dog a communication his communication is respected. tool and do not specifically Then, to end the barking a sim- bark to annoy people ple, pleasant cue is taught. Start at the End To train the three bark rule, you start at the end, meaning you back chain the sequence of cues. This is familiar terminology to clicker trainers. The entire sequence becomes Thank you, two, three, done, or any end cue chosen. It consists of counting out the two, three in your head or simply saying it verbally. The done cue can be anything i.e. done, quiet, shhhhh, cookies, uncle, etc. The thank you portion of the chain signals respect to what your dog is barking at, confirms it, and indicates you will take care of it. In the beginning, looking plus placing a soft palm on dog's shoulder will be needed to acknowledge the communication. Soon your neighbors will not even know you have dogs, because they will bark only to alert. If multiple dogs are in the household, train each dog separately before bringing them together. Training the End Cue Start training your ‘done’ cue first. 1 - Every time your dog is being quiet, say your done cue, then click and treat. The end cue, for instance 'done,' means turn away and come. If you see your dog sitting quietly at the window, this is an ideal time to practice the done cue. The key to the done cue is it means to turn away and return or come. 38
BARKS from the Guild/March 2016
2 - Walk or run backwards when you say your end barking word so the dog turns away and comes to you quickly for a reward. Mark the behavior by clicking for the action of turning away and treating for the position of returning to you. Turning away redirects the dog's attention away from what he is barking at. Delivering the Reward Wait three to 10 seconds before delivering the reward so it becomes very clear to the dog that the done cue does not mean you are rewarding "barking." Waiting several seconds before delivering the reward allows a period of quiet, helping the dog to forget what he was barking at in the first place. When you are confident you have a great quiet cue established then - and only then - add the cue to the entire sequence during barking. Thank you, two, three, done. Here is how it will go: 1 - The dog barks. 2 - Get up and go over to the dog. 3 - Place hand lightly on his shoulder and say first cue "thank you." Later you can eliminate getting up, but in the learning stages it is critical to the communication sequence. 4 - Continue with two, three (mentally or aloud, it does not matter). If it is said out loud, the dog will eventually stop barking at two or three and should be highly rewarded for doing so. Dogs will also start to monitor barks and even stop barking just to look. 5 - Adding the end cue. 6 - Get ready to cheerfully say your done cue when three is mentally thought or expressed out loud. As you do, run or walk backwards to the kitchen or other room where the reward is waiting and easily accessible. If you have trained this cue well without the addition of barking, your dog will stop barking immediately, turn away, and race to return to you for his reward. Wait three to 10 seconds to deliver the reward. Use this as a time for attentive eye contact. © Can Stock Photo/kristina888
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technique to manage the issue, no matter where the location
Prevention and Management Once the dog's attention is redirected it is time to block the