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How To Stop Dog Barking
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Before you attempt to stop dog barking, try to understand what's causing this behavior. Even then, you need to determine if his barking is excessive.
For dogs, barking is a form of communication. Dog barking only becomes a problem when it's excessive.
And the best way to stop barking?
Like with many dog behaviors, it's a lot easier to prevent barking from becoming a habit than to try and stop it after it became a way of life for your dog.
I also want to stress that it's "excessive" barking that you want to prevent. Almost all dogs bark and it's unrealistic to expect that yours never will.
Let's go over some common causes of excessive dog barking…
Anxiety Dog Barking
A lot of puppies and older dogs become anxious and start barking when left alone.
To deal with this problem, teach your dog that it's OK to be alone on some occasions. And nothing will accomplish it faster than crate training.
Here is how I would do it…
Put my puppy in a crate and leave the room. Come back in 5 minutes, but only if he is not barking or crying. This is very critical. Waiting until he quietes down teaches your pet two things... It's OK to be alone and barking doesn't always accomplish what he wants.
Now, the important part…
When I come in, I look very indifferent. No excessive praising and no feeling sorry for him. If he jumps and tries licking me because he is overly excited, I ignore him (If you show that you feel sorry for him, you can be sure that his jumping, licking and barking will repeat in the future).
Repeat this exercise four to six times per day.
When your puppy begins to accept his fate, gradually increase the time he is alone. Eventually, you will work up the time that he is alone, but don't keep your puppy confined to a crate for more than four hours at a time.
Visit dog separation anxiety page for additional tips on dealing with anxiety-related dog barking...
Dealing with Boredom Induced Dog Barking
To stop dog barking caused by boredom, you need to discover an activity that your dog will enjoy and will keep him busy.
My dog gets plenty of exercise and play. Afterwards, he is too tired and barking is the last thing on his mind!
Chewing is another activity that all dogs enjoy, and it will not only keep your dog busy, but it will also keep his teeth and gums healthy.
Before I leave my house, I make sure to leave some of Bo's chew toys around. Visit dog chew toys for more information on toys and chewing.
There are chew toys that you can stuff with food. They are made in such a way that your puppy will not be able to get all food at once. Getting food will be a time consuming effort, but it will definitely will keep him busy and stop dog barking!
A good example of such a toy is a Kong Biscuit Ball Dog Treat Holder.
It has a hollow center and 4 bone-shaped openings to dispense treats or food. It's designed for medium and large-sized dogs.
If you have a maller dog or just want more variety, consider the following set...
Kong Dog Toys collection consists of many toys of varying sizes and toughness.
Socializing to Stop Dog Barking
If you isolate your puppy from the outside world, he will grow up afraid of his surroundings. As a result, he will bark at anything that moves or emits a sound.
To raise a well-adjusted dog, start socializing him to other animals and humans as early as possible.
Since this is a very important topic, I dedicated a whole page to puppy socialization . In addition to tips on how to stop dog barking, you will find a lot of other valuable information.
Still Can't Stop Puppy Barking?
Some dogs, no matter how hard you try, just won't stop barking.
If nothing else works, consider getting a bark collar, which is sometimes called a dog shock collar or an electronic dog collar.
Bark collars come in 2 types, but they try to accomplish the same result – to stop barking by startling and distracting your dog.
The first type includes a small box that is attached to a collar. Whenever your dog barks, he receives a mild shock that distracts him from barking. The shock is very mild and feels more like a vibration.
The second type has a canister that is filled with a citronella fluid. When your dog barks, a harmless spray is released. It startles your dog and forces him to stop barking.
There are couple of disadvantages of a citronella bark collar…
The most obvious one is that you need to buy refill canisters. At about $10 per refill, it adds up. A less obvious disadvantage is that some dogs learn that almost non-stop barking will eventually deplete the liquid inside the canister.
No matter which type you prefer, they both work and will stop dog barking.
For additional information on bark collars, visit dog shock collar and electronic dog training collar pages.
If your dog is suffering from excessive barking (or is it you who is suffering?!), consider these 2 bark collars...
Free Spirit No Bark Collar is an excellent shock collar that will stop dog barking in most situations.
Another collar that I like is Citronella Bark Dog Collars by Premier Pet Products.
Unlike Free Spirit, this one works by releasing a spray of citronella.
Personally, I prefer Free Spirit No Bark Collar.
I used it on 2 of my dogs and have seen great results. Plus, since you don't need to buy spray refills, you will save a lot of money. Don't know about you but for me, it's a great incentive!
Dog barking is a very annoying behavior, but once you understand the causes, it's a lot easier to stop dog barking from developing into excessive dog barking.
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