Curing Problem Dog Barking

Dogs bark for many reasons including to get their owner's attention. If your dog barks continuously when he's left alone, he's perhaps telling you - and the whole world - that he's bored, anxious, or frustrated. By providing appropriate outlets for his physical and emotional needs, you'll end up with a quieter house and a happier dog.

Relax & Distract to Stop Dog Barking

Does your dog have enough to do? Try interactive play, walks and other exercise to help your problem barker keep calm and relaxed, and thus less inclined to bark. If he starts howling the minute you leave, leave him his favorite chew toy to help keep him occupied. You can also try leaving the stereo, radio or television on at a norm al level. This can mask outside noise that would otherwise send your pet into a barking fit. Is you dog spayed or neutered? The desire to mate can lead to frustrated barking - another good reason to make that appointment to have your pet neutered if you haven't already.

If your dog is barking to get your attention, the best solution is to walk away from him and ignore the bad behavior. Praise him and lavish attention on him after he has quieted down for a couple of minutes. He will learn that barking gets him nothing while silence gets results!

Command Training Can Stop a Dog from Barking

You can also help control barking with command training. When your dog barks inappropriately, tell him to be Quiet sharply and firmly. Do not yell. If he responds and is quiet for 5 to 10 seconds, give him praise, a treat or favorite toy. Repeat over time until he stops barking on command. If your dog barks whenever he's left alone, try this method. Exit your house as if you were leaving for the day, and once outside, listen for barking. If he barks, ignore him. What you're trying to do is to teach him that barking brings no response. Praise him when he is quiet, then re-enter the house and try it again. Repeat this regularly. If you have patience, this exercise can really pay off.

When some dogs become too excited, they act inappropriately. This can mean excessive hysterical barking, especially when they hear the doorbell or other unexpected noise. If you shout at your dog when he's doing this, he may interpret this as your way of joining in the hysteria! To control his behavior, have a friend ring your doorbell as you teach your dog the Quiet command and send him to a place where he can be rewarded for compliance.

Practice Makes Perfect

You may need to explore several of the methods mentioned here before hitting on one that works for your dog. If you're not seeing results after 2 to 4 weeks, try something different. For example, automatic audible trainers are an effective and safe way to train your dog without going to the extreme of shock collars. These devices detect the dog's bark from up to 50' away, and then emit a piercing correction tone for approximately 3-5 seconds. Used consistently for about 1 week, your dog will associate the irritating sound with their nuisance barking, and avoid activating it. This type of device will not inhibit instinctual barking when a threat or danger is present.