Stop Dog Barking

Top of Your "To Do" List:

Often, when you are the owner of a barking dog, all you want it do is stop. Plain and simple.

But why do dogs bark in the first place? And what can be done about it?

We’ll look at those questions in this article. But first up, here’s something to think about:

Dogs bark.

It’s as inevitable as babies crying, roosters crowing and neighbors gossiping. Your dog’s bark is its voice. It’s trying to talk to you. It may not always be a pleasing sound, but it is what it is.

So just what is your dog trying to say to you?

Why Do Dogs Bark?

You may notice that some dog breeds bark more than others.

Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds, are bred to warn of threats – real or imagined.

Sporting and hunting breeds like Beagles and Bloodhounds are trained to ‘bay’ when they smell a potential quarry.

And then there are the ‘chatty’ dogs that just have so much to say and so little time to say it in! Like the miniature poodle and other toy breeds.

All breeds have specific times when they need to bark. These will usually be when:

• She’s bored
• She’s lonely
• She’s hungry, or knows it’s time for a meal
• Something is wrong/someone is near the house
• She’s inviting you to play
• She sees or hears another animal
• She needs the toilet

At these times, your dog is behaving like…well, a dog. She’s just doing what comes naturally.

I’m not advocating ignoring your dog’s barking. Remember, our 'To Do' list today is 'Stop Dog Barking'!

Let’s look a little more at the reasons dogs bark.

Barking For Attention

Barking can be a form of manipulation.

For example, your dog may decide it’s time for a game. You may be busy with something else. Your dog may start barking to get your attention and to annoy you into stopping what you are doing and throwing the ball for her. She can happily keep this up for 5 or 10 minutes, especially if you are responding to her in any way, and have given in to this behavior in the past.

The thing is, of course, that you are the boss of your dog. So, you should be the one to decide when you are ready to play a game, not your dog. In fact, your dog will be more contented and happier when she knows you are in charge. She likes to be part of your ‘pack’.

But she’s bored, so she’s trying to manipulate or bully you into doing what she wants. If you give in, then she knows she can get what she wants by being noisy and aggressive.

This is not a type of behavior you want to reward. And you neighbors won’t be enjoying it either – remember that the noise is twice as bad for anyone who isn’t the owner of the dog.

The simple way to stop this kind of behavior is to ignore your dog. Don’t be wishy-washy about it. Ignore her.

• Immediately turn your face and body away from her.
• Walk away,
• Don’t look at her, and don’t speak to her.
• Don’t touch her.

Make it really obvious that the behavior brings no reward.

Her first reaction will probably be to bark more. Just stick with it and be consistent. She’ll get the message pretty quickly.

Stop Dog Barking Instantly!

Here’s a quick fix to stop dog barking on those occasions when you need it to cease immediately.

This is a perfectly humane, pain-free method of showing your dog that you need her to be quiet.

Here’s what you do:

• When she starts barking, give her a second to ‘get it out of her system’. She may not have much to say and will be happy with 3 or 4 yaps.
• If she doesn’t calm down in a reasonable amount of time then grasp her muzzle gently, but firmly, in your hand.
• She’ll struggle to shake you off and will back away, so grab her collar with your other hand to give you greater control.
• Hold onto her muzzle and collar until she’s stopped trying to break free. When she is still, she will have accepted your authority.
• Maintain your hold just a second or so longer, then let her go and praise her.

This quick fix does two things: it brings peace (your neighbors will thank you for it!) and it shows your dog who is boss. You are being firm, but kind, and showing your pet that you are a worthy leader of the pack.

Two Causes of Excessive Barking

What about barking that is repetitive and seems to have no focus?

The main cause of this annoying and unwanted barking is nervous, agitated energy. The simple remedy is exercise.

Most dogs need around one and a half hours of exercise every day. This will vary from dog to dog, depending on things like breed, age, and general level of health.

How can you tell if your dog is getting enough exercise?

If their barking comes with a lot of fidgeting, chewing, restlessness, and aggression, then you probably need to think about providing more exercise.

Exercising your dog can be a big time commitment. You may be able to fit more in by:

• Using it as part of your own fitness regime.
• Sharing the role among the family members.
• Get up half an hour earlier.
• Hire a local teenager or professional dog walker.

The second most common cause of excessive barking is loneliness. Dogs are instinctively pack animals. They are most comfortable in a social group and need lots of attention, lots of interaction, and lots of communication.

When they are cut off from this they can become anxious and aggressive. So, if your dog is spending a lot of time barking at what appears to be nothing, she’s probably bored and lonely. The best cure for this is a regular dose of affection and attention!

I’m no expert on dog obedience training, but thankfully the people at Secrets to Dog Training are. This is an excellent resource on recognizing, preventing, and dealing with just about every problem dog behavior there is.

It’s worth taking a look.

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