Instructions
Research what may instigate its barking. Do reconnaissance work on what triggers the yelps and when they begin. Does it bark when you or another loved one leaves? Is it obsessed with the playful squirrels in the tree?
Evaluate its medical condition as well. Too much barking could be a symptom of pain, injury or disease. Elderly dogs frequently bark a lot as a sign of canine senility.
Exercise it well. Terriers are lively and energetic dogs that require a thorough daily workout to feel satisfied. Regular walks and vigorous activity a few times per day will exhaust your Scottie's energy supply, which may help to allay its arfs.
Spend plentiful time with your Scottie. Play with it as often as you can, using its favorite toys. Scotties may bark out of loneliness, boredom or separation anxiety. Arrange for a visitor to check on your Scottie mid-day, perhaps, if you must work or be away. Place your outdoors Scottie indoors while you are gone from the home. Lay out food-dispensing toys to entertain it and keep its mind busy.
Respond properly to unwanted barking behavior. When it barks for you to attend it, ignore it. Utter only "Quiet!" or "Stop Barking!" firmly. When the yelps stop, reward it generously for listening to you.
Teach your Scottie to "speak." Issuing a command for vocal response helps your Scottie to learn the appropriate moments for barking -- i.e., when it'll receive a special treat or belly rub for listening to you.
Involve your Scottie in Earthdog work. This activity will activate your Scottie in the way for which it was bred: to go after vermin. Employing its natural aptitude to pursue quarry will summon its barking behavior in a perfectly acceptable setting and may reduce howls at home.
How to Control a Scottish Terrier's Bark
The Scottish Terrier is a presidential breed. Many American heads of state have enlivened the White House with a gregarious Scottie. Despite their First Family reputation, these terriers are not always demure. Bred to attack vermin on the farms of Scotland, the vivacious Scottie knows how to wield a bark to demonstrate its tenacity. Occasionally, its natural heritage may lead to excessive yips. Curbing the woofs requires a patient and loving owner willing to empathize with her dog.