http://www.poochtips.com If the owner believes the stimulus should be investigated, the dog should be called, told to Sit, then released, at which time the owner should go quietly to investigate the stimulus that caused the barking. If the cause for the bark is not worrisome, the owner should quietly tell the dog again to Sit, release it and return to former activities. This teaches the dog that its bark is important, but that the owner is in control of the situation, not the dog. If the dog starts again to bark during this procedure, it must again be called and the routine repeated. When this is done consistently, the dog will soon begin to give a single alarm bark, then seek the owner for further guidance.
