How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking

Barking is a natural and normal behavior in dogs. While there's not an exact science to reducing Rover's repetitive ruffs, here are some tips to help keep the peace.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Radios
• Radios
• Bark Control Dog Collars
• Dog Bones
• Dog Dishes
• Dog Doors
• Dog Food
• Dog Toys
• Dog Training Aids
• Dog Treats

1. Consider what's making your dog bark. Does he need yard access? Is a cat taunting him through the window? Does he just like the sound of his bark?

2. Check your pet's basic needs: hunger, thirst or elimination. Your pup might be trying to tell you something.

3. Remove your dog's motivation for barking. For example, make a dog door for easy outdoor access or close the shades.

4. Invest in a citronella no-bark collar, which is effective and not cruel; if your dog barks, the collar sprays a small amount of citronella, which dogs dislike.

5. Use positive reinforcement to train your dog to bark on command; this will help him learn how to be quieted on command as well.

6. Say "Good" at the exact instant your pet exhibits good behavior, followed by a reward and plenty of praise.

7. Consult a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or a pet behaviorist for additional suggestions if all else fails.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent barking while you're away, leave your dog inside the house, turn the radio on to soft music, and close the drapes and blinds when you leave.
• Certain breeds, nervous or overexcited dogs, dogs with separation anxiety or dogs that haven't been trained properly at an early age are prone to excessive barking.
• Excessive barking might be caused by separation anxiety, which can be dangerous to the dog if not treated properly. The dog may require professional help from a certified veterinary behaviorist.
• Avoid using shock collars - these are not recommended, especially for dogs with separation anxiety, unless the only other option is to have your dog put down.

[taraff1]

on 8/22/2009 I had tried everything to train my dog (a yellow lab) and have had unbelievable success with the training videos at:
http://www.squidoo.com/bestdogtrainingvideo

[josiesusinno]

on 8/5/2009 Boy do I wish I had read this one when my dog was a pup! LOL!!!

[jenseeraq]

on 7/23/2009 When you yell at your dog, when it barks, what does the dog hear? I hears you doing the same thing it did. And therefore thinks it's a good thing or a play thing.
If you have a social dog, ignore it when it barks.
And like the article says, teach it how to bark on command, so you can teach it how to be quite.
I don't believe in negative re-enforcement.
Train actively with the dog. Stay close to (and play with) the dog when it's in a situation, where it use to bark, then praise it a give it treats when it don't.

[ynohtna]

on 7/11/2009 Even though everyone wants to train a dog to stop barking, it is hard to do. This article helps big time thanks! I rate 5*

[soniafromcanada]

on 6/24/2009 You should go to http://www.petcare-store.com and look for bark free deterrant devices that send out ultrasonic signals and train dogs to stop barking through negative re-inforcement. It is safe and humane.