Instructions
Speak softly and calmly when your dog is startled and starts barking or tries to run away. Avoid yelling or screaming at your dog, as it may make your dog more frightened or uncomfortable.
Figure out what stimulus causes your dog to bark or run away. Re-create this instance as best you can. Keep your dog on a short leash and have treats in your pocket. Play a recording of a sound or make a noise that bothers your dog and, when it barks, command your dog to sit or lie down. Speak softly and gently, but reassure your dog. When you respond calmly, your dog will learn to as well.
Ignore your dog when it barks for no reason. For instance, puppies and bored house dogs frequently bark simply from boredom or for attention. Do not reward this behavior by acknowledging the dog. As with a child in a car who keeps asking, "Are we there yet?" the best course of action is ignoring him.
Train your dog to bark on command using the "Speak" command. To do this, hold a treat in front of your dog's nose, say "Speak" and create a stimulus like ringing a doorbell or knocking on a door. When the dog barks, praise it and give it the treat. Once the dog gets a hang of this step, move on to the next one. It may take days, weeks or even months, depending on the intelligence or stubbornness of your dog.
Teach your dog the "Quiet" or "Enough" command. Tell the dog to speak without making any noise and withhold the treat until the dog stops barking as you say "Quiet" or "Enough." Be consistent with what word you choose. Then, you will be able to quiet your dog down when it barks or gets upset.
Take your dog to a professional animal trainer if the problem gets out of hand.
How to Train Your Dog Not to Bark or Run Away
Dogs, like humans, communicate to express contentment, loneliness, alertness and fear, among other things. Dogs, however, communicate by barking or running away, depending on the stimulus they encounter. With some patience and concentration, you can train your dog not to bark or run away when it comes across distressing or potentially upsetting things like fire engines, lawnmowers, vacuum cleaners or even the doorbell. Over time, you can teach your dog to react calmly and trust you rather than barking and running away.