Teach Your
Dog Not To Bark
Unwanted
barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is
normal for dogs to vocalize and bark from time to time but many
times this behavior escalates much to the frustration of many dog
owners. There are many causes of unwanted barking. First you must
determine why your dog is barking before you can begin a program of
retraining. You may need help from your animal behaviorist or
veterinarian to do this.
One cause of
unwanted barking is attention seeking barking. You may have
inadvertently reinforced this behavior if as a pup your dog barked a
lot and you gave him attention to try and stop the behavior. As an
older dog, he may be exhibiting this behavior because he is left
alone for long periods of time, does not have appropriate
stimulation or exercise, or is an active dog that needs to have a
job to be happy.
If you suspect
this is the cause of your dog's unwanted barking behavior, you can
start to retrain him by making sure first and foremost that he is
getting enough exercise. Make sure to take daily walks - this also
allows him to explore the world around him which is good mental
exercise as well. If you have a local dog park, take your dog there
and let him socialize with other dogs and people. Take an obedience
class - this is good for mental stimulation and will help you to
better communicate with your dog. Provide many interesting toys to
keep your dog busy while you are not around. Make sure to spend one
on one time with your dog on a daily basis and make it fun so that
your dog learns that he doesn't need to bark to get your attention.
Another cause
of excessive barking is as a response to something that your dog is
afraid of. Many dogs bark during thunderstorms or around unfamiliar
people. If your dog is barking as a response to thunderstorms or
other loud noises, provide him with a safe place he can go in these
situations such as a crate. Make his safe place fun by providing
good treats such as a Kong filled with peanut butter to keep him
occupied. Play a radio or the television at a low level to help mask
the noise. If your dog is barking at unfamiliar people, help him get
over this fear by enlisting the help of your friends and neighbors.
Have them walk by and approach your dog. Have them ask him to sit,
and when he does so without barking, have them give him a treat.
Pretty soon,
your dog will learn to associate unfamiliar people with treats and
will learn new positive behaviors. If your dog barks at people and
noises that are coming from outside the house, you may want to limit
his access to rooms with windows. This will help cut down on the
unwanted barking behavior.
If your dog is
barking when you're not home, it could be due to separation anxiety.
If your dog is especially attached to you or has recently
experienced a situation of change in his routine such as divorce, a
move, or a death in the family, this could be the case. To remedy
this kind of barking behavior, you will need to start a course of
desensitization. You can begin to do this by taking very small trips
such as just out to the mailbox and back, while leaving fun toys and
yummy treats for your dog. As your dog learns to behave while you're
gone, slowly increase the length of time you are gone.
To check and
see if your dog is barking when you're gone, you may need to use a
tape recorder or enlist the help of your neighbors. Separation
anxiety often needs to be treated with medication as well as
desensitization. If you suspect your dog is barking due to
separation anxiety, please consult your veterinarian or animal
behaviorist.
Some people
choose to treat their dog's unwanted barking problems with bark
collars. The most humane bark collar available today is the
citronella collar. These bark collars work by spraying harmless
citronella in your dog's face whenever he barks. Studies show a very
high rate of success with the use of these kinds of collars. Using a
citronella collar for a period of time can help to reinforce more
positive behaviors.
There are many
training tips and tools available to help you replace unwanted
barking with more positive behaviors. If you need more information,
consult your veterinary staff/pet professional or click on the
graphic.