How To Stop Barking Dogs Problems

Yes, a constantly barking dog can be a nuisance

But dogs are dogs, and dogs do bark. It’s a way of communication, just like when we humans talk. So you need to a certain extent to accept, that your dog bark. Your job is to teach your dog to use his barking in an acceptable way. Of course your dog should use his barking as a way of expressing joy, a way of communicating and when a stranger is approaching your property your dog should warn you with his barking, but the dog should also stop barking when you tells him so.

Manipulative dog barking

Some dogs learn that they can use barking as a way of getting what they want. This is not a proper way of using barking as communication. Lets say your dog is approaching you with a ball in his mouth, he wants to play. You’re doing other things and you don’t feel you have the time. But your dog don’t take your no as an answer, so the dog starts barking. When you ignore him, he continue to bark and the dogs barking gets louder and louder. At the end you give up and take him outside to play. For the moment you have a happy dog, but you are also building a basis for future barking problems. Your dog is learning, that he can get what he wants, simply by harassing you with his barking. Now you have a problem.

First of all remember, that you are the leader and you are setting the rules, not the dog. If you don’t want to play right now, don’t let anything he do, change your mind. But how do you stop the barking dog? Give him a stop signal, a hand raised or whatever you use to do. With his next bark, you turn away from him and ignore him. He will approach you and bark again. you turn very distinctively your back at him and moves away. Don’t talk to the dog, simply ignore him as long as he continues barking. When he stops barking give him a brief, pretty neutral contact but don’t praise him. Switch between ignoring the barking dog and give him normal contact when he stops barking. At the end the dog will relax and find something else to do and he will have learned, that he cannot force his will on you by barking.

Excessive dog barking

If the dog barks excessively for other reasons, where the ignoring method is of no use, you will need to show the dog that you as the leader and authority wants him to stop. When the dog starts barking give him a second to get it out of his system. Don’t shout at him, that will not work. But clasp his muzzle gently, but firmly, in your hand. It is important that your grip is firm but without pain. When the dog try to back off use the other hand to hold his collar. That will bring you in control. Hold the muzzle and collar until the dog stops trying to break free. That’s the point where he has accepted your authority. If he continues to stop barking, when you relieves him praise him in a calm manner.

Other ways to stop dog barking

Other ways to deal with a dogs barking is to reduce his energy level. Make sure that your dog is well exercised. A dog with surplus energy level will always try to find ways to letting the steam off, eg. by barking. This is also likely to happen when an under-exercised dog has to much home alone time. He is bored, has to much energy and the dog starts barking and becomes a nuisance to all the neighbors. To stop the dogs barking, you need to exercise him in the morning before leaving. If you cannot exercise him in the middle of the day, you should hire a person to do so. This will get the dog out of his boredom and as he is natural tired the dogs barking will end or at least be reduced.