How to Stop Dog Barking

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By Hillary Marshall
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Barking is a dogs way of communicating with the world, but when your dog has a lot to say it can become problematic. Not only can your dog barking excessively bother you, but it can be disruptive to your neighbors and company. Nobody wants to be the person with the annoying dog, but stopping your dog from barking at everything and everyone can be difficult. Training your dog to bark less requires a great deal of patience and perseverance, but it is possible.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Responding to a dogs excessive barking much like responding to a child's temper tantrum will only reinforce the behavior. If your dog is outside barking like a maniac and you go out and bring him in, your reinforcing in his mind that he should bark like that when he wants something. That being said you can't leave your dog to bark and just ignore it. When your dog starts to bark, get their attention and use the command quiet in a calm low tone. When your dog complies praise him immediately. The repeated use of this practice will teach your dog that you are happy when they respond to the quiet command by stopping their barking. It's really no different then sit, stay, roll over or teaching your dog to go the bathroom outside. It takes time, but dogs live to please and they can be taught to obey commands when given. You can even practice this command by having someone knock on your door and then going through the motions with your dog. Repetition typically helps dogs to learn, so practice usually makes perfect.
Step 2

Another way to break your dog of excessive barking is to make sure they are adequately stimulated. Take your dog for walks to help them burn off some of their pent up. Walking them also helps to alleviate boredom and it fulfills their need for exploration. Playing with your dog and spending an adequate amount of attention with them daily also helps reduce barking. If your dog already has your attention, they won't feel the need to bark as often. Regular interaction and play also helps to reduce boredom, which in turn reduces barking.
Step 3

It should never be a goal to completely eliminate barking. People talk and dogs bark, thats how they communicate. The goal of bark training should only be to control excessive barking that is disturbing your household or neighbors.