"Stop Barking" Command

• A dog's natural reaction is to bark, especially when there is something suspicious going on. After the dog is given a chance to bark, tell him to "Stop Barking" instead of "Stop It." Use specific words consistently about what you don't want the dog to do. Follow with a treat once a dog has not barked for three seconds. According to PerfectPaws.com, you can increase the length of silence time by five seconds, and then 10 seconds. Eventually, the goal is to have your dog not bark for several minutes once a "Stop Barking" command is issued. Give treats only once the dog has successfully followed your command.
  
  

Water Bottle or Bitter Apple Spray

• Grannick's Bitter Apple Spray is available at pet stores and was originally developed to discourage licking of hot spots and fur biting. The bitter apple spray, however, also can be used to discourage other behavior such as irritating barking. You do not have to spray it in the dog's mouth; it can be sprayed in the direction of the dog once a "Stop Barking" command has frequently been ignored. The spray is not harmful to dogs.
  
  

Spray Bark Control Collar

• Unfortunately, some dogs take a long time to train to stop barking at inappropriate times. For stubborn dogs, consider purchasing a spray bark control collar that will mist the dog's face when nuisance barking occurs. The mist is harmless, and can be either scented or just plain water. The stop bark control collars are not meant for long-term use; the goal is to still train a dog to follow owner commands.