...to stop her puppy barking, the mother would hold it in her jaws and give a low throaty growl..."
There are many dangers in the wild and, before dogs became domesticated, it was vital that the mother kept her puppies quiet in times of danger.
The mother would stop her puppy from barking by gently, but firmly, holding her puppy's muzzle in her mouth whilst giving off a low, throaty growl.
This wouldn't hurt her puppy but would quieten him, and stop him from barking until the threat of danger had passed.
You can mimic this behaviour to stop your puppy barking by holding your puppy's collar with one hand, (this will keep his head from moving) and clamp your other hand gently around your puppy's muzzle - take care not to block his nasal passage.
Af first, your puppy may struggle a little, so it's very important to be extremely gentle with him.
At the same time, in a firm but quiet tone tell your puppy to 'Be Quiet'. Don't allow your voice to become emotional; don't get angry; stay calm and in control.
As with all dog training, consistency is the key: remain consistent and you'll soon be able to drop the 'muzzle clamping', and your puppy will respond to your 'Be Quiet' command alone.
The above may be used on an older dog, as long as you're confident that he won't try to bite you for clamping his muzzle closed! Otherwise, for an adult dog, you could try one or more of the methods listed in our article entitled, How To Stop Your Dog Barking.
