Do you have a dog who likes to alert bark inside the house or out in the yard? He may benefit from learning the “look” game. This great training rewards your dog for performing a more acceptable behavior instead of barking when he sees his usual triggers — perhaps people approaching or dogs walking past. In this game, you calmly say the word “look” to bring attention to the stimulus, then teach him that the sight or sound he normally barks at is his cue to remain quiet for a treat or reward.

The game is free of punishment. Punishing a dog for barking is never recommended, as punishment can often increase anxiety and aggression, inhibiting the bark temporarily without resolving the root emotion causing the territorial barking. Check out trainer Mikkel Becker’s advice for teaching the “look” game in the video below.

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