subject: Eureka! Stop Your Dog From Barking [print this page] Many dog owners have experienced some barking from their dogs. In some cases, it's just uncontrollable. You may even be getting complaints from your neighbors. You may be asking what I can do to stop my dog from barking? Eureka! Stop your dog from barking may just be the antidote you need.
Should I be concerned that my dog is barking excessively? Yes! Find out what is the root cause of his barking. Once you can identify the cause, you can begin to change your dog's behavior. This article will cover some of the basic causes that owners can look out for and begin to take corrective action and stop his excessive barking. The topics covered are: loneliness barking, separation anxiety barking, territorial barking, and other barking behaviors.
Loneliness Barking
If loneliness is the cause of his barking, giving your dog some attention this may solve the problem. If you are in a family, encourage family members to take turns playing with your dog and taking him for walks. If he must be alone, provide him with some toys to play with to amuse him.
There are times when attention may not solve the problem. Here are a couple of suggestions:
Take some pennies and put them in a can and tape it shut. When your dog barks, shake the can near him and say "quiet" in a firm voice. The purpose here is to startle him. If the barking should continue, shake the can again and say "quiet". Be sure to keep the can away from him so he does not consider it a toy. Eventually your dog will catch on; your verbal command "quiet" should stop his barking.
If the can does not work, use a squirt bottle to squirt your dog's legs and back accompanied by a firm "quiet" command.
Remember, any action to correct your dog's behavior of barking must be made while he is barking. After the fact corrective action will only confuse him. Be sure to use a strong firm voice. Avoid yelling.
Separation Anxiety Barking
This happens when dogs are housed inside and are left alone may suffer from separation anxiety. This may lead to excessive barking. One way to prevent this problem is to train your dog to be left alone. This can be done while you are crate training your puppy or dog. Teaching your puppy or dog to stay calm and relaxed while he is in his crate will teach him to stay calm when he is left alone later in life. Adult dogs can be crate trained, but will take and require more time on both the dog and the owner's part.
Territorial Barking
Some dogs bark to protect their territory and a "bark/reward" cycle may be established. Example: A dog who barks at the mailman when the mail is delivered is "rewarded" when the mailman leaves. This bark/reward may lead him to bark at other service people, neighbors, and passersby. Possible solution: Introduce your dog to people that come to the house regularly. Short conversations with delivery or service people, with your dog present, may solve this issue.
If this does not work, try saying "no" or "quiet" when your dog begins to bark. If he responds by being quiet, praise him briefly and reinforce this good behavior by giving him a treat. Remember, you must be present when he is barking to give the "no" or "quiet" command and a treat.
Other Barking Behaviors
Dogs often will bark in an invitation to play. This is accompanied by body languagetail wagging or crouching with the head lowered and hindquarters raised. Barking usually stops when play begins or the invitation goes unanswered.
Sometimes pain or illness will trigger barking. If you're well-behaved canine in his usual environment begins barking or creating other forms of vocalization, a trip to the veterinarian is in order.
Final Thoughts
As with all aspects of behavior training, consistency is the key to success. Enlisting the cooperation of every family member is important in controlling your dog's barking, and in all other aspects of his training. Verbal commands and expectations for your dog's behavior must be consistent if you are to be effective.
Always reward your pet when he shows the proper behavior with a treat or verbal praise or both. Never reward him when he shows the incorrect behavior. You do not want your pet to get mixed signals during his training. Share this with your entire household so that all are on the same page.
By following these tips you are well on your way to stop your dog from barking.
