10/20/2026
Training Tip Tuesday: The fastest way to make demand barking worse is to wait it out and then give in. Most owners hold firm for two minutes, cave, and accidentally teach their dog that barking for longer is the winning strategy.
Here's the drill. Start before your dog has a reason to demand anything โ before meals, before play, before you sit down. Ask for a sit or a down, wait for three full seconds of quiet, then deliver what they want. That is the transaction you are teaching: calm gets the thing, noise gets nothing. When they do bark at you, turn your body completely away, cross your arms, and look at the ceiling. Do not speak, do not make eye contact, do not move toward them. The moment they stop โ even for one second โ turn back, ask for a sit, count three quiet seconds, then reward. Repeat every single time.
On day 4, you will notice the barking bursts get louder before they get shorter. That is called an extinction burst and it means the training is working. By day 7, the bursts are shorter. By day 10, most dogs pause and offer a sit on their own before you even ask. By day 20, demand barking during meals and play has dropped sharply for most dogs.
Here's why this works. Behavior that gets rewarded repeats. Behavior that produces nothing, consistently, fades. You are not punishing the bark โ you are simply making it the least efficient option available.
One caveat: if your dog escalates to jumping, pawing, or nipping when you turn away, management comes first. Tether them or use a baby gate so the behavior cannot be rehearsed while you build the foundation.
Found this helpful? Check my profile for more free training tips.
