How to Resolve Barking Issues

Your dog's barking can quickly become annoying.

Your dog's vocalization is a natural form of communication. However, excessive barking can quickly become bad behavior, annoying you and your neighbors. A common approach to training your dog to cease barking is to use a shock collar. Such collars can end up harming your dog when not used properly. Your dog may become aggressive or develop other bad behaviors, such as urinating in inappropriate places. To resolve your dog's barking, you can employ safer methods.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dog treats
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Citronella dog collar
• Ultrasonic bark control collar
• Dog toys

1. A dog will recognize its bad behavior with water spraying. BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images

   Spray your dog with water from a spray bottle when it barks. Your dog will eventually understand that it should not bark if it wants to stay dry.

2. Your dog might need reassurance. George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images

   Calm your dog when the barking is caused by territorial barking. Your dog will develop a growling sound, followed by barking. A dog initiates this form of barking when it sees another animal invading its space, when a stranger approaches or it sees anything unfamiliar.

3. A reward mechanism can help teach your dog. Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images

   Use a command, such as "Quiet." Give your dog the freedom to bark a few times before saying "Quiet," suggests the The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Gently close your dog's muzzle, repeat the command and release your dog's muzzle. Offer a treat when your dog understands the message.

4. Place a citronella collar around your dog's neck. Dogs have an aversion to the citronella scent. When your dog barks, the collar releases citronella and stops your dog's barking.

5. Use an ultrasonic bark control collar as an alternative to a citronella collar. An ultrasonic bark control collar emits a high-pitched sound that's disagreeable to your dog. Depending on your dog's sensitivity, you can adjust the collar's sound level.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a dog toy to distract your dog when it barks at strangers coming into your home can give your dog an alternative to barking.

• Avoid yelling to get your dog to stop barking. When you raise your voice, your dog misinterprets your yelling for barking. As a result, your dog may continue its barking.

• Don't send mixed signals to your dog. For example, don't praise your dog when it barks at the doorbell and then punish it when it barks at car sounds.

References

• Vetinfo: Does a Shock Collar Stop Dog Barking as Advertised Read more: Does a Shock Collar Stop Dog Barking as Advertised; 2010
• The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Barking
• Vetinfo: Features of Ultrasonic Bark Deterrent Products; 2010

Resources

• Vetinfo: Why Dogs Bark; 2010
• Vetinfo: 5 Humane Anti-Bark Systems and Solutions; 2010