How to Reduce Dog Barking By Bruno At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

How often have you wished your dog would stop his incessant barking! If you are a dog owner, you must have faced this problem at some time or another. Sometimes the barking is so bad and continuous that the neighbours are on a warpath with you. We all wish we could teach our dogs to behave and only bark when necessary.

You do want your dog to bark when someone is at your door or in your yard, but when the barking goes on and on is when your appreciation stops and is replaced with dismay. When a dog decides to bark at everything and anything is when you start getting concerned. Do you want to know why your dog is barking continuously and do you want him to stop?

Why is the Dog Barking So Much – Pinpoint the Cause

The first step is to try to figure out as to why the dog is barking so much. The main reason why dogs bark is because they are bored, especially when they have been left for long periods of time. You should leave plenty of toys with your dog when you are going out so that they keep themselves entertained. The toys that can hide treats are a special favourite, They will be busy all day looking for the treat and will hardly notice you left and are back again.

Another reason dogs bark is for attention. They have figured that if they bark, you react and give them attention. They are quite like children. They need affection and maybe bark just so you can pet them and pick them up. If your dog barks with his teeth bore, that’s when you should be alert and ask your vet for help.

How to get these Barking Dogs to Stop

Negative Reinforcement:
Negative reinforcement is a start. That does not mean you should scold your dog each time he barks. It just means something needs to be done so that your dog associates something they don’t like with their barking and will then stop!

One way is to squirt a little water on him form a spray bottle each time they bark. This will not harm him yet he will figure that you don’t like what he is doing. When the barking starts and continues without a break, calmly walk to the dog and without saying anything, and just give him a little squirt in the face. You will probably have to do this several times and for many days so that he knows you are serious.

Metal Can:
Another way is to distract your dog when he starts his barking. Shake a metal coffee can filled with marbles, they will stop barking and try to figure out what it is. Keep shaking the can each time they bark for no reason and their curiosity will soon distract them and make them stop. Also train your dog so that he is okay with your coming and going as if it is normal routinely.

Limit the Praise:
Only praise your dog when he is well behaved or has done something worth praising.

The Importance of Exercise:
Also remember exercise is very important. A well-exercised dog is less likely to bark the house down and drive the neighbours crazy while you are away. Train your dog some basic words. ‘Come’ is a huge command. Train your dog in a relaxed manner till they become used to obeying you. Once well trained in the ‘come’ command, use the command to come to you and then stare at them till they stop. After some time they will stop the excessive barking.

Barking is a natural way for a dog to communicate. Do not train your dog never to bark. They need to do so sometimes. Train them so that they only bark when there is reason to bark, that way you and your neighbors will be much happier.

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