Creative Ways to Stop a Dog From Barking

You have tried yelling, threatening and pleading, but nothing you do will stop that incessant barking! You love your canine companion, yet you cannot stand his constant barking. What you need is a creative way to stop your dog from barking and restore the peace and quiet to your life that you once enjoyed.

Function

Dogs bark to communicate. They may bark when they need to go out or come in, or they may bark to get your attention when it is time to eat. Dogs will also bark when they are bored as a way to release pent up energy. A barking dog can be warning you about an approaching stranger. However, sometimes dogs get in the habit of barking and do it continuously, and this can be quite difficult to live with.

Misconceptions

Some people assume a barking dog is being aggressive. While aggressive dogs may bark, not all barking dogs are showing signs of aggression. While the behavior can be ear splitting and quite annoying, it is not necessarily dangerous. If the barking is accompanied by signs of aggression, however, it needs to be dealt with immediately before the dog has a chance to act on his aggression. Otherwise, take your time dealing with a barking dog, as understanding the cause is the key to successfully stopping the behavior.

Considerations

The best way to stop a dog from barking is to learn why he is barking and deal with the cause. Is he bored? If so, take him on a daily walk and that barking will soon cease. Is he scared? Remove the thing that is scaring the dog. Does your dog bark to get your attention? Stop giving him attention when he barks. Wait until he stops barking to give him attention. Soon he will learn that barking is not the way to get what he wants.

Prevention/Solution

If you cannot stop the cause of a dog's barking or do not want to make him stop barking altogether, try this training exercise. When your dog barks, tell him to "stop barking" after a couple of barks. At the same time, show him a dog treat. He will stop barking in order to sniff and take the treat. Give it to him with a lot of praise, repeating the "stop barking" command so he learns why he was given the treat. Soon the dog will learn to control his barking when you command him to "stop barking."

Warning

Hitting a dog that is barking will not solve the problem. This type of behavior increases a dog's anxiety and fear, which can lead to more barking. If you need to correct barking, do so by sternly telling to dog to "stop barking," and then splash the dog with water to get his attention. Remember to give your dog several weeks to learn not to bark, because it has become a habit in his life and he will need time to break it.