A Dog Barking

How to Stop a Dog from Barking

So you have a dog barking that you'd just like to quiet before you go insane? Maybe it's yours or maybe it's your neighbors. Nothing you have tried has worked. What do you do?

First off, realize that barking is normal - it's what dogs do. However, the problem arises with excessive barking.

Excessive barking can happen for numerous reasons:

They are bored
They are frightened
They are frustrated
They have been taught (mostly unintentional) to bark

A dog barking in the middle of the night for no apparent reason or spending the majority of the day barking at each and everything that flies past the window will quickly become a nuisance. Even if the owner of the dog seems okay with the misbehavior, the neighbors will not be.

If you have your dog in a dog pen or outside enclosure, you may want to consider moving him or her inside until you have completed retraining your dog.

Steps to help get past your dog barking problem:

Exercise your dog. If you are away from home or if your dog does not get a lot of stimulation during the day, it's no wonder they are bored and bark for fun. Instead, if you make sure to exercise and play with them in the evenings this will be a first step towards reducing their barking issue.
Mentally stimulate your dog. Spend some time playing obedience games with your dog. Toss around her favorite toy. Give her a treat hidden inside a play toy that she has to work to get out. These things will help keep her mentally stimulated and will again be positive steps.
Begin dog training immediately to stop barking. Use treats or other rewards. Decide on the command that you are going to use. You might say "Shhh," "No Bark," or "Stop Barking." Once you have decided on this, then when you catch her barking, use the command and show her the treat. When she stops barking to have the treat, reinforce with praise. Gradually increase the amount of time before giving her the treat. Work on this each day and you will be on your way to a quiet dog! You can find further details on this method here.

Every dog can become an excessive barker. However, realize that some dog breeds are more likely to bark than others. For example, small dogs are more prone to barking. Realize that excessive barking is not normal. There are underlying reasons. Unfortunately, dogs are left at animal shelters everyday because of excessive barking. Some will never find a new home and will either be euthanized or rely on Sponsor a Dog programs for a second chance.

A Dog Barking (home) | Sitemap | Contact Us