One of the main reasons people give up a dog is because of excessive barking.
It is only natural that your dog will bark sometimes but if the barking is excessive you’ll first want to find out why. Before you can stop a dog from barking you need to understand the underlying cause.
There are a variety of reasons a dog will bark including protecting territory, fear, boredom, anxiety, and even pain.
There are medical problems that can cause excessive barking so you should check your pet for injuries and have a vet confirm there are no unseen causes.
Before you even start you should know that to train your dog to do anything takes consistency and patience.
Remember that communication between you and your dog is the key.
Your three main forms of communication are:
- Eye Contact
- Body Language
- Spoken Word
Eye Contact
Start with eye contact. That doesn’t mean staring down the pup, but to have it look you in the eyes when you want its attention. Just a split second at first should be considered compliance.
Body Language
Dogs will follow your eyes but they will also respond to and learn your hand motions. You may have to start with exaggerated motions but they will quickly learn that holding up one finger means you want their attention or showing them the palm of your hand means stop.
Spoken Word
Never yell at your dog. That will just frighten it. But always be firm and calm.
Most dogs can learn between 100 to 200 words and can understand your tone of voice.
Always make sure to generously reward them when they comply.
Exercise
Vets and trainers have recommended trying to tire out your dog before you leave if he barks when you are away. But I’ve found that tiring out a dog can often be easier said that done. I remember Fritz, my little mixed bread that I recued years ago would still be wired long after I was totally wiped out.
Since I was away too often and Fritz was left at home alone, the solution for Fritz was to find him a home with lots of energetic children that would give him the attention and play he needed.
Even though it was hard for me to give Fritz away, it was the best thing for him. For extra energetic dogs getting enough exercise is very important.
Playtime with Visitors
Another option might be to get someone to come over and provide some playtime while you are away.
Not enough exercise is the main reason dogs bark excessively so finding a way to exercise him is of prime importance.
Create a Distraction
One recommendation I’ve seen for dogs left alone is to give them something to do like a food dispensing toy. But please be aware that some food dispensing toys are not recommended for small dogs. There have been multiple reports of small to medium sized dogs getting their jaw stuck in the toy and having to visit the vet to get it removed.
Be careful what you wish for
Sometimes dogs will bark because they’ve been trained to. I recall Otis, our pug mix that my partner trained to bark for treats. That turned out to be a real mistake because Otis thought he was being trained to bark for food any time we were eating.
The solution for Otis was training him what the word ‘quiet’ meant.
Again, training does not mean screaming at him to stop barking but to calmly and firmly give the ‘quiet’ command and then immediately reward him when he stopped barking.
Don’t encouraging your dog to bark at environmental noises like when neighbors are walking by or the mailman and the garbage truck.
Bring your dog inside
If a dog barks at night when left outside bring the dog inside. They will tend quieten down and relax once inside.
Don’t Forget the Reward
To train your dog to do anything you’ll need some form of currency that is valuable to the dog. Generally that currency will be food or play. For most dogs a bit of deli meat will do the trick. The idea is to create an incentive.
At first you don’t want to ask for too much. Just a split second of compliance is enough to start with but once you feel you have the dog’s attention you’ll want to raise the bar by asking for a little bit more.
If the dog is too excited and will not respond even with treats you will need to take it back to the last known place of acceptable behavior. That might be picking the dog up to calm it for a moment or turning the dog around facing away from what the dog is barking at.
It is important to acknowledge any amount of compliance they show. Reward them If they stop the excessive barking just for a moment when you are starting out.
Everybody needs Friends
Excessive barking is common with very young dogs and unsocialized dogs. Try to get them to be comfortable around as many other dogs and people as possible. Socialized dogs tend to be calmer and more obedient and will tend to not exhibit excessive barking.
The best time to correct unwanted barking to just before it occurs. You’ll most likely be able to tell when they are about to bark. You should be able to spot their ‘tell’ when their ears perk up or their nose goes in the air. Each dog may have its own individual behavior so you can spot when they are about to bark. That’s when you should get their attention by getting them to look into your eyes and then reward them when they comply.
Caution
If the hair on the back of the dogs neck is standing up – called piloerection – the dog may be frightened or stressed and may be more difficult to reason with. It is very important to communicate with your dog if it is in this state. Eye contact, your body language, and spoken words are your communication means.
In Conclusion
- Get their attention on you and ideally correct the behavior before it occurs
- Reward them heavily – even during brief moments of compliance
- Spend lots of time, be patience and consistent.
Training is ultimately about communication. You are teaching your dog how to listen to you and how to understand you. With good communication you can teach your dog to do anything.
