How to stop your dog barking
how to stop your dog barking
Dogs bark. It’s an action deeply ingrained in their system, a sound in a collection of sounds produced by “Man’s Best Friend” that could be terribly annoying for dog owners. Like growling, barks are the mainly used by dogs for communication purpose and hence cannot be stopped by dog owners. However, you may control it by teaching the dog to obey commands specifically made for your pet to realize that the barking has got to stop. Here are two most common reasons why dogs bark and ways to alleviate the problem.
Type: Warning Barks This is actually the only bark that dog owners want to cultivate. One of the reasons why people buy dogs is for protection, so it’s logical that we would want them trained to alert us in case of fires, intruders or any other crisis . However, the problem comes in when your pet starts to bark at non-intruders, more specifically, at mailmen. Some dog owners solve this by simply preventing their pets to see the mailman.
Treatment Because this is a “notice me” bark, any type of attention you give, whether it’s a glare or a “Shut up!” would be ignored. However, the trick for this type of bark is pretty much like the one for “Warning Barks”. You would have to first distract them from barking by making a different kind of noise that would startle them. Refrain from calling out their name because that also comes under the label of attention. Once the dog quiets down, allow for a few minutes before giving them a treat, a chew toy or anything that might strike their fancy . Note that the few minutes is important because it reinforces the fact that you are rewarding them because they have stopped, not because they have barked.
Treatment Since warning barks are favorable to dog owners, we don’t usually chastise the dog for alerting us to an intruder. The main problem would be how to discontinue the barking, especially if the “intruder’ has been recognized as a friend.
For example, if a friend you haven’t seen for a long time suddenly drops by your house, dog barks would not be surprising. Stopping the noise barrage is another thing entirely. You can try by training your dog to listen to specific commands. Choose a word such as “Stop” or “No!” and use it whenever you want your dog to stop barking. For example, once the dog starts to bark, get his attention through clapping or calling out his name. The minute the dog stops barking, look him in the eyes and say “No!”. You could also use hand signals if you want, allow for a few minutes for the gestures to sink before finally giving a gift. The treat would condition them into thinking “If I stop barking, they’ll give me a treat.”
Type: “Notice Me” Barks These barks are basically instigated to catch the owner’s attention. This behavior is mostly seen in young puppies that are more inclined to seek attention. Regardless of it being a negative or positive attention, the bottom line is that giving in to the barks results notice.
Remember to be constant with the word or hand signals you use in the same quality of voice. Other members of the family must also adapt these commands to avoid confusion from the family canine. Treats are a very good way to start dog barking training, but later on you can substitute this with less expensive rewards like a pat on the head or a good scratch between the ears. Be patient with the training as it would take time before your dog adapts to the changes in the household. If you are having extreme cases of barking that seems to have no reason at all, it might be best to consult a vet. A veterinarian would be more able to give different treatments depending on your dog’s situation. However, regardless of the reason for your pets bark, always remember to be patient with the dog. As much as possible, avoid using methods that will hurt the dog.