Is the "spray bottle" a good method to stop your yorkie to stop baking?

Question

and if thats not good, then what is other ideas?

besides ignoring them and the shock collar, cause i dont like them.

Answer 1

If you started screaming and I sprayed you with a water bottle, would that mean you'd stop screaming?  You're probably looking at me (or this answer) and thinking "what an idiot--it would depend upon why I'm screaming.  If my foot was on fire, a water spritz isn't going to make any difference.  If I'm having a panic attack or flipping out, a water spray will probably make it worse."

And that's EXACTLY the same truth with your dog.  If your dog is barking randomly, just for the heck of it, than any number of things can get your dog to interrupt their train of thought and refocus on you.  But it all depends upon WHY your dog is barking.  

Look at it this way, the problem isn't the bark in most cases.  Oh, we humans are annoyed by the barking.  But the bark is usually a manifestation of something else.  If your dog senses an intruder (and many terriers for instance are great "alert" dogs who bark at a change in the environment) than spraying them does nothing--it hasn't changed the CAUSE of the barking and they either continue to bark or do something else (jump up on you, tear something up, turn aggressive at the supposed intruder when they enter the house, whatever).

I know of someone who's dog barked at people coming to the house.  She hired bark busters.  Her dog stopped barking.  Instead, when strangers came to the house, her dog started submissive urination.  I don't know about you but I'd prefer the barking--if I had to choose.  

If you figure out WHY your dog is barking, you can figure out what to do.  If your dog is barking because he's bored or has too much energy, a spritz won't work--they'll likely just shift to another behavior.   Additionally, it's easier to teach dogs to DO something rather than to NOT do something.  Rather than try and teach your dog to NOT bark, teach your dog to do something else in that situation (assume a down-stay).  So depending upon what you find out, you may end up doing things like:

--desensitizing your dog to the trigger (such as the bird by the window or the stranger walking by the house) so it doesn't result in barking

--teaching a substitute behavior (I know another person who taught her dog to race to his crate and wait for a treat whenever the doorbell went off).

--providing a better outlet for your dog (like a bell to ring if they need to go out, or giving your dog a long walk first thing in the day so they burn off adrenaline and nervous energy).

BTW, the water bottle method keeps coming up because people keep looking for quick solutions.  So me a well-trained dog and I'll show you someone who put in some time.  There are NO quick solutions to dog training--it requires consistency and time.  Ideas like grabbing the dog's mouth and closing it, spraying with a bottle of water...those almost always fail or produce unanticipated responses (like submissive urination, a slower recall because the dog doesn't trust you, less trust and therefore quicker to bite, etc.).

Answer 2

hahahahah you want a YORKIE to stop barking?!!?

maybe you should have got a big dog, less less less yappy.

Answer 3

when my chihuahua starts yapping, i just pick her up hold her in front of your face and say no, see if it works for you.

Answer 4

i think a spray bottle is a great deterrent to any behavior, that is unless your dog likes being sprayed! which is common among many dogs!

Answer 5

I have a Yorkie Shitzu Mix and when we got him he was a yapper but every time he yapped we said no firmly. He is now 3 and only barks when he is in the car at other dogs, but never ever barks in the house or when playing with other dogs. He is very friendly. I would say just keep saying NO firmly he she will stop I am sure mine did.  

Answer 6

I have a yorkie who barks all the time.. She thinks shes bigger and tougher then what she is.. Ive tried the water bottle on her.. and usually what shell do is turn around and try to catch the water in her mouth and drink it.. On the other hand I have a Lab/mix who HATEs the water bottle.. I dont even have to spray her anymore.. If I just point it at her she stops what she was doing. I do think its a good tool as long as the dog dosnt like being sprayed.  

Answer 7

I have a Silky that barked a lot and I read that book Be the Pack leader by Cesar Millan. He said you have to do it immediately and keep the spray bottle with you constantly and actually makes your dog afraid of you instead of wanting to please you. So, I learned to be more assertive and perfectly calm and just go stand in front of him as tall as possible while giving him "the look". I don't say a thing. Then I back him away a little. The look is that look your mother gave you when you did something wrong when you were little. It works like a charm. My friends are amazed. But you have to be very consistant until he learns you won't put up with it.

Answer 8

yes the spray bottle will do good, soon when you just show your dog the spray bottle they'll be quite lol

It just takes patience and good training  

Answer 9

another method is to get a can, put some pennies in it, and rattle that.  the noise distracts them.

Answer 10

yes, it is good, I have seen with my own eyes plenty of dogs trained to not bark with the spray bottle. It's not going to stop it all together, and it shouldn't either, but if your dog barks insesently nonstop at everything, its a problem, if she only barks when a person walks by the yard or a bike goes by, thats how yorkies are and you'll have to deal with it, if she barks at everything? then spray bottle for sure.

Also, some dogs bark for these other reasons, I have put in short next to them how to fix it:

boredom: more toys, interaction, and walks.

protection from outside: more socializing and car, bike, people, noise interaction.

separation anxiety: special toy when you leave, no cuddling when you first come back, wait until shes calmed down.

being trapped: if kenneled for a long time or never let out of the house, so walk outside more, car rides, and do not kennel her for more than four hours at a time.

frustration: interact, give two meals a day, find stress problem, could be a cat or another dog, or something and make peace.

Answer 11

Yeah, if not, when he barks, grab his mouth and shut it and say " NO"