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It is natural for all dogs to bark. If you are expecting that
your pet dog should not bark at all, it is similar to expecting
that your kid will never talk. However, there are some dogs that
bark excessively. In case, your dog is also exhibiting a similar
kind of behavior, you should first try to figure out what is
causing it to bark so much. When you have identified the causes
of his barking, it is easier to treat this problem.
Reasons for dogs to bark
Dogs use barking as a form of their vocal communication. Barking
can signify several things as it depends on a particular
situation. Check out some of the reasons for dogs to bark.
Fear/alarm
There are some dogs that start barking as soon as they hear any
noise or object, which startles them or catches their attention.
It can happen in any place and not necessarily in his home
territory.
Play/greet
Most of the times dogs start barking while greeting people or
animals. Such barks are their expression of happiness that is
typically accompanied by wagging their tails and jumping with
joy.
Loneliness/boredom
Dogs do not love to stay alone. When you leave your dog for a
long period of time in the yard or in your house, it can feel
desolate or bored and start barking as they are sad.
To seek attention
Many dogs frequently start barking if they want to have something
such as to get a treat, playing or a desire to go outdoors.
Protective/territorial
If your dog considers any animal or person stepping into an area
as its own territory, it may resort to excessive barking. And
when it feels that the threat is coming nearer, barking may even
get noisier. The dog looks aggressive and alert in this type of
barking.
Compulsive/separation anxiety barking
When dogs suffer from separation anxiety, they tend to bark
louder and more frequently while they are alone. Other symptoms
such as depression, inappropriate elimination and pacing are also
exhibited by them. If your dog is a compulsive barker, he will
simply love to hear his voice.
How to take care of excessive barking?
If you want your dog to bark less, you need to be patient as it
will require consistency, work and time. Things cannot change
overnight however you can observe progress with time and proper
technique.Here are some of the points to remember for controlling
your dog's excessive barking.When you shout at it more, your dog
may end up barking more as he will believe that you are also
joining in. Hence speak firmly but calmly send avoid yelling.A
majority of the dogs are not sure about what you want them to do
every time you yell and say "shut up". Rather, you need to train
your dog to understand the meaning of the word "Quiet".
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking: 5 Tips And Tricks
Barking is a natural means of dog communication. Why and how much
a dog barks, however, can depend on a number of factors.Genetics
is one of them. Some dog breeds just bark more than others.
Hunting dogs, for example, were bred to bark as a way to signal a
target.
Common Reasons Dogs Bark
Another reason dogs bark is to communicate physical and emotional
needs. If a dog is hot, cold, thirsty, hungry, sick, or otherwise
uncomfortable, they might bark as a way to say, “Hey, how about a
little help over here?” In addition, if a dog is bored,
anxious, excited, or
understimulated, they might bark in order to request attention,
or they may develop a barking habit as a way to release energy
and frustrations.And of course, a dog may bark if they are
scared, threatened, or trying to warn you of danger, like if an
intruder were to come onto your property or if another dog were
to threaten them.Many times, barking is conditional, meaning that
it is in response to a situation and stops when the
situation changes. Other times, barking can be excessive and
become a real problem.Here are some tips on how to stop your dog
from barking. If you need additional help, don’t hesitate to
contact a trainer or animal
behaviorist
.
Tip #1: Cultivate a lifestyle that will minimize barking.
The best way to stop barking is to prevent it. Create a lifestyle
and environment for your dog that will reduce their likelihood of
becoming anxious, bored, scared, or otherwise needy.
- Make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise. Dogs who
are understimulated or have excess energy are more likely to
develop a barking habit.
- Offer your dog a safe and comfortable place to rest. Leaving
your dog in a cramped crate or a cold backyard may induce
anxiety and barking.
- Ensure that your dog has access to fresh water at all times,
including when you are out of the house. You should also ensure
that you are feeding your dog the correct amount
of food; check with your
veterinarian.
-
Socialize your dog. A
well-socialized dog who is comfortable around people, other
animals, and new environments is less likely to feel anxious,
threatened, overexcited, or respond to stimulus with a bark.
- If you need to be out of the house for long hours, leave
stimulating toys, turn the radio on, and consider buying some
dog-friendly DVDs. You may also want to hire a dog walker or
sitter to offer your pup a break from the isolation, which can
promote barking.
- If your dog barks only when you leave the house, teach them
that it’s no big deal. You can do this by practicing coming and
going for short periods of time and gradually increasing the time
that you are gone. You should also avoid making a big deal about
coming and going; don’t offer long, emotional goodbyes or hellos.
If you do, your dog will assign a great deal of significance to
your absence and presence, which can promote separation anxiety
when your dog is left alone.
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Tip #2: Don’t yell at or punish your dog for barking.
A lot of barking is
attention-seeking behavior, and if you yell at your dog (or
acknowledge them at all, really) it shows them that hey, it
worked! And hey, maybe I should do that more often! When your dog
barks, try to ignore it. Avert your eyes, walk out of the room --
whatever it takes. Then give your dog attention and praise when
they stop barking on their own. You should also be careful about
using the crate as a way to punish barking; the crate should be a
safe and happy place for your dog, not one that they associate
with punishment.
Tip #3: Teach the “quiet” command.
To teach your
dog “quiet,” approach them
when they are calm and not barking, say “quiet,” and then offer a
treat. Repeat this exercise 5 to 10 times a day. Then, when your
dog is barking, wait for them to stop, say “quiet,” and then
offer a treat. Repeat this whenever your dog barks. After a
couple of weeks, you can begin using the “quiet” command to
instruct your dog to stop barking. Be patient, though, and put in
that early work. If you try to stop barking with the “quiet”
command too soon, your dog is likely to get confused and think
that you are actually rewarding them for making a
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Tip #4: Teach the “speak” command.
Once your dog knows the “quiet”
command, you can teach the “speak” command. That’s right; we’re
suggesting that you teach your excessively barking dog to bark.
Sound crazy? What it actually does is teach your dog when barking
is appropriate (which is when the command is given by you). It
also gives you another way to reinforce the “quiet” command.To
teach “speak,” wait until your dog is barking, say “speak,” and
then give them a treat. Repeat this as often as necessary until
your pal learns the command.
Tip #5: Talk to your veterinarian about alternative methods.
If your dog is barking due to
severe anxiety, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety
medications. You can also ask your veterinarian about herbal
anti-anxiety food drops and citronella collars which release an
unpleasant odor when your dog barks.Do you have a dog who
barks excessively? Tell us your story below, and consider signing
up for PetPlus, a benefit program
for pet owners that provides member-only access to medications at
wholesale prices, plus discounts on food, supplies, boarding and
more.
