If you have a dog that likes to speak it’s mind – loudly and constantly – both you and your neighbours will know how frustrating it can be.

Here are a few pointers to help you train your dog to stop barking:

1. Teach your dog to “speak”. Make eye contact and get your dog’s attention. Hold up a treat where he can see it and say, “Speak”! When he speaks, give him the treat and praise him. Practise this daily and you’ll start to develop a control over your dog’s barking.

2. Train your dog to “hush”. Tell dog to “speak” and encourage him to keep barking. Say, “hush”. If he stops right then, praise him and give him the treat. If he doesn’t stop right away, repeat the command to hush until he does. Wait a few seconds to make sure he’s staying hushed, then praise and give him the treat. Practise daily and expect it to take some time.

3. Use targeted training after teaching “speak” and “hush”. Make eye contact to get your dog’s attention. Just before he would usually start to bark, tell him to “sit”. When he does, give him a treat and praise him. When he starts to bark, tell him to “hush”. When he does, praise and treat. If he starts barking again, remind him to hush, and praise and treat when he does.
 
4. Pay attention and reward your dog when he’s quiet. Notice his changed behaviour and continue to reward it.

If your dog has been barking at the postman for years and years, don’t expect him to give it up after a few lessons. Expect to make this part of your routine for at least a month – and that’s with daily practise! But focus on your goal. One day in the not-too-distant future, when the postman arrives, your dog will sit down and wait quietly for him to leave.

Tips and tricks you should know if you're moving house...

    * Get friends or family to look after your kids! Of course they’re excited and it’s important to keep them involved, but having them around can seriously slow down the whole move. They’ll treat the whole thing like an adventure rather than a job – and you’ll be constantly distracted. By treating them to a day out somewhere, they’ll have a great time and you can put all your energy into the move.

    * If you've hired removal men, treat them to lunch! Sounds weird I know, but a few cups of tea and some sandwiches or fish and chips, and they’ll really put in that extra effort for you.

    * Go label crazy! Make sure you label every box or crate clearly on EVERY surface, not just the top. Colour coding with highlighting pens is the easiest way to mark things up (red for living room, blue for kitchen, etc). This ensures the right box ends up in the right room, otherwise removal men could end up dumping everything on the ground floor, leaving you to lug the boxes upstairs.

    * DON’T pack boxes full of books or anything heavy. Overstuff a box and it will either make it split or be impossible to lift. Instead, just half-fill boxes with heavy items in them.

    * Make sure your driveway and the road right outside your house are empty. This also applies to the place you are moving to. Inform your neighbours well in advance of the move, and ask them if they could keep their cars clear for the day. Keep a space free for the removal van by blocking off a parking bay with a couple of chairs and a broom.

In the name of wealth, happiness and success!

Pascale Barrow
Managing Editor of Personal & Finance Confidential