We all know that dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are excited to see us. Other times they want to alert us that a stranger is approaching the home. There are many occasions when a dog barking is absolutely appropriate, and even welcome.
However, if you have a dog who exhibits a pattern of excessive barking that is driving you crazy, you are probably looking for a solution. Understanding what is causing the behavior and dealing with it in a positive way will almost always result in a quieter, more obedient dog. If you have a dog with a lot to say, this piece is for you.
What Causes Excessive Barking?
Dogs bark because that is how they communicate with us. They don’t really have any other way of “saying” what they want to say, so not all barking is bad. IN fact, if they are warning an intruder to stay away, or letting us know that something is wrong – barking is good. But if you are dealing with a dog who barks incessantly and for no apparent reason, it can get really annoying, really quickly. We will first look at why a dog may bark too much, and then how you can work to modify the behavior.
There are several reasons why your dog may bark too much.
- They may just be bored. Dogs need play, exercise and companionship – and if they have none of those things, they may bark because they simply cannot think of anything else to do. By exercising with your dog, spending more time playing and interacting, or even providing him with toys and distractions, you may be able to moderate the barking.
- They may be dealing with separation anxiety. If you notice your dog starts barking the second you walk out the door, and your neighbors report he has barked all day, chances are excellent he has stress about being left alone. Since you likely can’t stay home with them as a solution, the best thing to do is think of methods to help them cope. You can associate a fun activity (such a searching for a stuffed Kong treat) with your leaving, and hire a dog walker to come give them some exercise throughout the day. You may even want to install an interactive camera which will allow you to see and speak with the dog during the day.
- They may be trying to communicate with the dogs, children or adults they see walking past the home. When a dog is bored and alone and sees possible companions, they may bark simply to let the passersby know they are there. You may wish to close blinds or keep dogs behind a high fence which they can’t see through. Of course, if there is a dog on the other side of the fence, the barking will likely continue.
- Your dog may be fiercely loyal and protective, and bark excessively if a guest comes to the home – or even if the mailman is just dropping off a package. The best thing you can do in this case is teach the dog to obey a simple verbal command to stop barking on your order.
Training a Dog to Stop Barking
While breaking your dog of the barking habit may be hard work, the method is simple. You need to teach your dog to obey as you would with any command. Utilizing treats, choose a command such as “Hush!” or “Quiet” and reward them every time they hear the command and stop barking. Positive reinforcement is almost always a better method of training (rather than punishment.)
If you need a little help training your dog to stop barking excessively – or you are looking for any other type of obedience training- call the experts at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training. We are here to help you with all of your dog training challenges.
