So you’ve decided you’ve had enough of your dog’s barking. Well, you probably
already know that there’s only so much you can do about the problem.

Dogs bark because they are dogs, after all. If you started meowing instead of talking, it would surprise you! They also bark because they are placed in situations where they may or must do so. And very often because their master did not teach them to be silent.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

See above! Given that all dogs bark (except the Basenji breed), they’re more likely to do so when theyr’e excited, angry or scared. Here are some specific reasons your dog may bark:

Territorial Barking

Barking to get Attention

Barking when they Greet you

Frustration Barking

Alarm Barking

Compulsive Barking

Barking Related to Injury or Illness

Clearly, barking is used in many ways when a dog wants to express himself. And
they’re going to want to do it sometimes no matter what you do to prevent it.

How To Stop Your Barking Dog

First, it’s important to observe such things as what your dog tends to bark at,
when he’s most likely to bark and if he has a specific trigger.

If he refuses to stop, consider whether his barking is justified. Generally it’s
excessive barking that can be controlled. How? Well, let’s take the common
example of territorial barking. To control it you must create a situation in
which your dog doesn’t feel the need to defend itself. You must assure him that
the household is secure and you are in charge. Be the alpha dog in your home and
your pet will sense that his space is protected.

Also, you can simply make it harder for your dog to see invaders. Close the
curtains so he can’t see the mailman and get a fence designed to block his view
outside the yard. Keep him away from windows when possible. You might also try
turning on some music to drown out the sound of passers by outside.

Now, what to do about the anxious dog? Anxiety issues will cause a dog to bark
when she’s separated from you. She may bark nonstop until you’re reunited. This
is usually the case when barking has been rewarded in the past. If you return
home and your dog barks with excitement, don’t give her attention right away.
Wait until she calms down.

Barking on command

However paradoxical it may seem, the dog who learns to bark on command is a good
start for teaching him silence. You do not teach your dog to bark, but to do it
only on command.

To teach him two options, take advantage of moments when he barks to say
“barking! “Or “speak “and then after a while, reward him. Once the dog starts to
bark when you say one or the other of these words, you’ll go to the second step,
the trigger for “stop barking”! While the dog is waiting for his reward, ask him
to stop, get the silence, and then reward him.

Your dog knows to bark and be quiet on command and even better, he has learned
to be silent even though he only started to bark.

Better late than …

To end with a positive thought, note that whatever the age of your dog, it is
possible to act. In the best case, you will simply stop the nuisance behavior
and, at worst, you can mitigate it.

Often, rather than blaming our dogs for barking, we must behave responsibly and
learn to teach them good behavior and good manners in our world of humans.