How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Barking is one of the toughest canine behaviors to modify. It is a self-reinforcing activity. The dog may bark in various conditions which can be a physical need like feeling cold, starving, feeling hot, thirsty, or want to get rid of something.

It’s just a way to provide accommodation to one of their needs. It can also be an emotional need like getting uneasy, eager or bored. Barking can just be done to grab attention or to fulfill some undesired need for mental and social stimulation.

How To Minimize Barking

Evaluate the situation when the dog barks and try following methods:

Try to see that your dog gets less bored, so increase his exercise time and play time so that the dog get to sleep more.

Find out whether the dog’s physical needs are fulfilled or not.

When your dog barks, shake your hand in front of the dog and just say “no” in a very firm voice. Do not shout at the dog.

Avoid parking the dog in the backyard as they are social animals and they don’t want to be left out alone. They strongly need to be in their pack. The ones left out bark more that the other dogs.

Have some training class to build your dog’s self belief and emotional control.

Don’t always check your dog for barking. This can increase the dog’s anxiety. Take him out, play or talk to him only after he has stopped barking.

Don’t let the dog hear or see things which activate his barking. For example, if the dog barks at vehicles, just block the dog’s view so that he is not able to see outside, or shift him to other side of the house.

Try to appreciate your dog for his good behavior. Get him exposed to sounds or sights which make him bark gradually. Try socializing the dog to new experiences.

Try training your dog, and try giving commands. If he listens to you reward him with something or at least appreciate him for the work. Dogs know what kinds of barking are desirable and what are not, if they get the proper feedback