Mar 13 2010
How to Stop a Dog from Barking
There are some occasions where it is expected or possibly even helpful for your dog to bark, such as an uninvited intruder in your home. However, a dog’s bark can quickly change from being helpful to just being stressful or bothersome. Especially troublesome for owners who live in an apartment or condominium building and have been the unfortunate recipient of neighbor complaints. There is hope with training techniques and products to help stop your dog from barking.
First off it’s important to realize that many dog’s barking stems from his boredom. Dogs need daily exercise - to be walked or played with. If a dog isn’t getting any attention, barking sometimes seems to be his way of getting your attention - even if it’s negative attention. Beyond making sure your dog is getting enough daily exercise correct training is helpful to get him to stop barking.
This first technique owners will want to try in training your dog not to bark: immediately address the dog when he is inappropriately barking by going to your dog, tapping it on the nose, and saying “no” in a “I mean business” tone of voice, then immediately leave the dog or continue with your walk and not playing with the dog after punishment. Spraying a dog with water instead of verbally chastising it might work better in some situations, though many dogs don’t mind being wet. If you find you can’t solve the problem on your own, you might want to find a professional behavior trainer.
Anti-barking products can also help break your dog of their bad barking habits. Electronic collars, citronella collars, sound-emitting collars, remote sound-emitters, medication, muzzles, and debarking surgery might all be appropriate, depending on the situation. Some of these items can also be used in conjunction with training to help make sure the dog gets the message. Finally, you might pursue professional help - many trainers and kennels offer late night training sessions, which would let the owner and pet both come to understand how to solve the problem.
Taylor writes on a variety of other subjects, including how to select a large dog bed.
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