Can I get Bro to stop barking at everyone

[Bro's Mom and Dad]

I am so thrilled to be able to bring the little guy to my place of business a few days a week. Most everyone loves him! He's friendly, comical and pretty darn smart! BUT!! He feels the need to announce everyone's arrival by greeting them at the door and barking at his loudest. Actually, sometimes he just sits there looking for shadows to bark at. I have tried to keep him near me, but I can't all the time, even holding his muzzle closed does't seem to help much. Is a real muzzle the only way to train him? I sure would appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

[dutchman]

First off let me tell you a muzzle won't stop barking. Perhaps the most widely used method to curb unwanted barking is to use a squirt bottle filled with plain water. When you buddy starts unwated barking tell him QUIET and hit him between the eyes with a stream of water. Anoter training method that I understand works well but is rather costly is a citrinla(SP) collar. The collar has s small container that you fill with the citrinla solution and it sprays it towards the dogs face when they bark.

Good luck,

Tom

[mardoniche]

I have had success with an old coke ccan. You put some coins in the tin and tape the top up, to stop the coins from coming out. When the dog barks you tell him to quiet, at the same time you drop the can firmly on the floor. Use some force with this as the noise is meant to startle them. You DO NOT throw the can at or near them, just firmly on to the floor. This has worked well with my tribe. I now only have to pick the can up and rattle it for all of them to stop instantly. It works for all types of problems, I have even broke up fights by throwing the can on the floor.
Hope this helps,
Dawn <img border="0" alt="[hapfac01]" title="" src="graemlins/hapfac01.gif" />

[sherlocksmom]

Thanks for everyone's input on the barking issue. I take my doxie to work nearly everyday and he is so quiet and polite. We have a fairly quiet small business with very few visitors. He loves to raise cane when the UPS man arrives. But the guy get's a big kick out of him and calls him "killer". But the accountant has nearly passed out a few times because he starts barking at her when she doesn't expect it. I want to get him broke of this bad habit. A lot of other visitors he never even bothers with. I think I'll try the can method first and see what works. I was on long distance today with customer in Hawaii and suddenly he thought he saw something outside and started making the most awful noise. I can only imagine how professional that sounded on the other end. Thanks for the hints. <img border="0" alt="[Angry]" title="" src="graemlins/angryfire.gif" />

[Mom of Freddie and FG]

Oh boy do I HEAR YA! My Freddie is very vocal too.
I'm going to start the 'coins in can' trick again.
Also, a whistle might work. Of course that might be too loud at work, but maybe at home it would help??

Susan