Dogs
bark for many reasons including to get their owner’s
attention. If your dog barks continuously when he’s
left alone, he’s perhaps telling you - and the
whole world - that he’s bored, anxious, or frustrated.
By providing appropriate outlets for his physical
and emotional needs, you’ll end up with a quieter
house and a happier dog.
Relax & Distract to Stop Dog Barking
Does
your dog have enough to do? ANIMED recommends
interactive play, walks and other exercise to help
your problem barker keep calm and relaxed, and thus
less inclined to bark. If he starts howling the
minute you leave, leave him his favorite chew toy
to help keep him occupied. You can also try leaving
the stereo, radio or television on at a norm al
level. This can mask outside noise that would otherwise
send your pet into a barking fit. Is you dog spayed
or neutered? The desire to mate can lead to frustrated
barking - another good reason to make that appointment
to have your pet neutered if you haven’t already.
If
your dog is barking to get your attention, the best
solution is to walk away from him and ignore the
bad behavior. Praise him and lavish attention on
him after he has quieted down for a couple of minutes.
He will learn that barking gets him nothing while
silence gets results!
Command Training Can Stop a Dog from Barking
You
can also help control barking with command training.
When your dog barks inappropriately, tell him to
be “Quiet” sharply and firmly. Do not
yell. If he responds and is quiet for 5 to 10 seconds,
give him praise, a treat or favorite toy. Repeat
over time until he stops barking on command. If
your dog barks whenever he’s left alone, try
this method. Exit your house as if you were leaving
for the day, and once outside, listen for barking.
If he barks, ignore him. What you’re trying
to do is to teach him that barking brings no response.
Praise him when he is quiet, then re-enter the house
and try it again. Repeat this regularly. If you
have patience, this exercise can really pay off.
When
some dogs become too excited, they act inappropriately.
This can mean excessive hysterical barking, especially
when they hear the doorbell or other unexpected
noise. If you shout at your dog when he’s doing
this, he may interpret this as your way of joining
in the hysteria! To control his behavior, have a
friend ring your doorbell as you teach your dog
the “Quiet” command and send him to a
place where he can be rewarded for compliance.
Practice Makes a Dog Stop Barking
You
may need to explore several of the methods mentioned
here before hitting on one that works for your dog.
If you’re not seeing results after 2 to 4 weeks,
try something different. For example, automatic
audible trainers are an effective and safe way to
train your dog without going to the extreme of shock
collars. These devices detect the dog’s bark
from up to 50' away, and then emit a piercing correction
tone for approximately 3-5 seconds. Used consistently
for about 1 week, your dog will associate the irritating
sound with their nuisance barking, and avoid activating
it. This type of device will not inhibit instinctual
barking when threat or danger is present.
|
