my beagle puppy of about 9 months wont stop barking when ever he sees,hears, or thinks he hears something out side

Question
I have no idea what to do with him. When ever we have the door open he is looking out side and all of a sudden starts barking at nothing. Even when the door is shut and he is just sitting here he will jump up and start to bark and we love him and play with him all the time and i don't get it. So pleas can you help?

Answer
Hi, had to chuckle when I read this .... he is exhibiting typical beagle behavior! Beagles are busybodies because of their noses and ears. You may not see anything or heart anything but your beagle boy SMELLS someone or something and hears what we don't hear. This is a very common complaint with beagles but it is a breed characteristic. Their senses are very honed which is why they are hunting dogs. Beagles love to bark. My best suggestion would be to start using a shake can. Take a beer or soda can, whichever has the thinnest aluminum and drop about 10 pennies in it, duct tape over the top and when he barks toss the can at him. You will need to have numerous cans made so you can do it several times in a row if needed and also have them stashed around the house. Do not let him see you throw it at him, we don't want him to become afraid of you.... just interrupt his thought processes and stop barking and eventually he will come to know that the can isnt a good thing. This is a widely used behavioral mod technique with dogs. Mine are now so programmed that I oy have to pick it up and the slight kingle is enough make them stop whatever they are doing. When he stops praise him and put him in a sit and then praise him again.

Good luck with your boy!