Dog Barking Can Be Stopped
If your dog has a barking problem; it can be difficult finding a solution that works. As with any sort of undesirable behavior, the key to solving it is to communicate clearly to your dog what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behavior.
Many dog owners make the mistake of actually rewarding this behavior without meaning to. By doing these three things, we actually contribute to the problem of excessive barking:
1. Yelling at the dog. Screaming at your dog does nothing but give them the attention they were trying to get by barking.
2. Letting the dog inside. If the dog is out in the yard barking to beat the band and you then let him in, this shows him that barking will lead to being let inside.
3. If you react to your dog’s barking by petting them or dispensing treats, this most certainly encourages them to continue their barking. This shows your dog that he has done something which you approve of. You need to make it clear that this barking is unacceptable behavior.
Give these training techniques a try: Use these dog training techniques:
Don’t yell at your dog. After some basic dog obedience training, you won’t need to anyway. Excessive barking and many other behavioral problems will be easily corrected if your dog learns to look to you as their pack leader. A properly trained dog will respect you and be eager to please. The ‘Stop!’ and ‘Quiet!’ commands, which your dog will learn in obedience training should be sufficient to curb the problem.
If your dog has been barking while you are not at home, you should ignore your dog for a little while upon your return. This is not easy for many dog owners; after all, you are glad to see your dog when you get home. However, you also don’t want your dog to associate your return with their barking. Just do some things around the house for a few minutes and wait for them to settle down before paying attention to them.
Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something
This is one of the easiest barking problems to resolve. By establishing yourself as the ‘pack leader’, your dog will cease the barking problem quickly and will establish a proper relationship between you and your dog.
Dog Barks At Passers By
If your dog is barking at the postman or UPS driver, it is because they see them as threatening intruders on their turf. If your dog’s barking drives these people away, your dog believes that they have done well. They will continue the behavior with this enforcement. This can be a sticky problem indeed.
If it is one specific person who sets off this behavior, you may need to enlist them in order to correct the problem. If, for instance, your dog gets aggressive every time the UPS man comes, talk to your UPS driver and have them give your dog a treat. This will teach your dog that they are a friend, not a threat.
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking
Although in my experience this has never been necessary, if your dog will simply not stop excessive barking despite having tried every possible technique, you can speak with your vet about debarking surgery. I would never do this myself, but if you are at the end of your rope, talk to your vet about this.
Dog obedience training is the way to solve your dog’s behavioral problems (like stopping your dog from barking) as well as the best method of building a solid bond with your pet.
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- Thomas Turner
