Instructions
Determine what is causing your dog to bark. Identifying the cause helps to determine the best source of action. Pay attention to when and where your dog is barking, or at whom. For example, if he barks every time the doorbell rings, your goal will be make him accustomed to the door bell so that he doesn't bark by distracting him. When the bell rings, ask him for a "Sit," then reward him. In time, he will sit whenever he hears the doorbell.
Don't yell at your dog when he barks. Yelling only reinforces your dog's barking behavior because he thinks you are barking with him.
Ignore your dog's barking when he wants something. A primary reason for barking is to get attention; if you respond by giving the dog what he wants--say, to come in the house when he is outside--you have just rewarded that behavior. Instead, wait until he stops for a few seconds, then let him in and reward him with a treat.
Be aware that, if you have been reinforcing this behavior, you will see a spike in it as you start to ignore him rather than give him what he wants. This behavior is called an extinction burst, meaning it will get worse before it gets better. Do not give in, or you have shown the dog that if he only barks louder, or longer, he eventually will get his way.
Manage the behavior. Obstruct the dog's view of the street and the neighbors so that does not bark as a result of seeing people or other dogs. Bring your dog in the house, or walk him, at the times he barks most (when the neighbors get home from work, or their children from school).
Put the behavior on command, because a dog won't do something for free if he is accustomed to being rewarded for it. Anticipate his barking, and ask him to "Speak" just before he does; reward him. Then say, "Quiet" and reward him. Practice in different venues until your dog understands.
Give your dog things to chew and play with; if he is busy gnawing a rawhide, he can't bark.
Exercise your dog each day or teach him some agility tricks. Physical and mental will tire him; and a tired dog is a good dog.
Buy an anti-barking collar. Three different types are available: citronella collars, tone-emitting collars, and stimulation collars. Citronella collars produce an unpleasant order in the form of a spray each time your dog barks; tone collars produce a unpleasant frequency that only your dogs hears; stimulation collars produce a mild electrical shock when your dog barks. The principle is the same with all three collars: teaching your dog to associate barking with an unpleasant consequence.
How to Keep My Yappy Dog From Bothering the Neighbors
A constantly barking dog can ruin your relationship with your neighbors. However, dogs can be trained not to bark. The first step toward this goal is to discover why your dog is barking. He may be bored or he may be acting territorially; you inadvertently may be reinforcing the behavior. Whatever the impetus for his barking, your dog should and can be taught when barking is appropriate, or not.