Dogs bark for many reasons. Sometimes it is practical, like when the dog barks to let you know they need to go out, eat, or drink, or when they want to warn you of a perceived danger. Other times, your dog may bark as a greeting, to express a particular emotion, or to attract attention.
While barking is entirely natural, it can become excessive. At that point, periodic warning signals become day-long noise and a source of frustration for the owner. Plus, it may start to irritate your neighbours.
Unfortunately, many dog owners don't know how to address the issue and may worsen it using inefficient methods. For instance, yelling at the dog might quiet them briefly but may traumatise the pup and won't solve the problem long-term.
Trying to distract the dog with treats or play will signal that you're rewarding their current behaviour, i.e., barking. Somewhat similarly, disciplining the pet inconsistently will only confuse them. In such cases, the barking won't go away, and it might even get worse.
However, there are many successful techniques to prevent your dog from barking excessively. Read on to learn the most efficient ways to do just that.
- Reward Desired Behaviours (And Avoid Rewarding Undesired Ones)
Dogs respond great to positive reinforcement. Your pet will learn what you want them to do relatively quickly if you reward them when they behave in a particular way.
When it comes to the barking problem, the desired behaviour is to remain quiet. That's why you should give your dog a treat or play with them when they are calm. Associate the reward with a cue like "Quiet" to start building the connection in the pet's mind. Then, when they start barking, repeat the signal.
If your dog doesn't stop barking, denying them the reward is crucial. Otherwise, they'll think that making noise is acceptable. However, if they go quiet, make sure to reward them while repeating the cue.
Avoid punishment or aggression when trying to get your dog to stop barking. You want to associate your cues and rewards with calmness, teaching your pet to behave properly while staying happy and feeling safe. If they become frustrated or scared, they could become unresponsive to training, and your relationship with the dog may be jeopardised.
- Understand the Cause of Excessive Barking and Offer an Alternative Behaviour
You can teach your dog to react differently to whatever stimulus makes them bark. However, first, you'll need to understand what that stimulus is.
As mentioned, dogs bark to greet, warn, express an emotion, or attract attention. Take note of when your dog barks to determine the exact cause of the behaviour. Once you're confident of why your pup makes noise, you can start developing an alternative response in them.
For example, barking at the sound of the doorbell is quite common. Luckily, it's also relatively easy to replace with a more welcome behaviour.
To train your dog to react differently to the doorbell, have someone ring it while you get the dog's attention and direct them to a different area. If your pup is already used to barking at the door, you'll need to employ treats and rewards they can't resist.
Don't give your dog their favourite toy or treat as soon as the doorbell rings. Instead, use those rewards to attract the dog's attention and combine them with verbal commands and encouragement.
This method will require consistency and patience. However, it could resolve the barking issue permanently. Instead of creating noise the next time your dog hears the doorbell, they'll likely head straight to where they expect the reward.
Once this behaviour starts happening without your verbal commands, keep giving the pup the promised treats or toys. Then, start leaving the reward out gradually. After a while, the reaction will become second nature and won't depend on outside incentives.
- Block the Dog's Line of Sight
If your dog barks whenever they see movement through the yard fence or window, the solution will be easy: Create a barrier that prevents the pup from seeing the other side.
A privacy screen can be installed over the fence in your yard to block out the view. This method could be ideal if you're renting. But if you're a homeowner, you can do something even better – plant a hedge. This home improvement will improve the look of your yard and isolate it visually from the street.
Indoor visual barriers are as straightforward to apply as outdoor ones. You may consider closing the blinds or curtains, although this solution might not be optimal. First, keeping the blinds closed will prevent natural light from coming in. Second, if your dog gets overly excited or annoyed at a sound from the outside, it could jump at the window and damage whatever type of barrier is there.
It would be more efficient to opt for removable coating or window film. Covering the glass with such materials will allow more light inside while blocking sight. Plus, you can remove the protective layer at any point.
- Give Your Dog Plenty of Exercise
Dogs who don't spend enough time outside can become restless. In those cases, excessive barking can appear as the result of unspent energy. If you have a particularly active dog breed, you'll need to tire out your pet properly to prevent them from becoming agitated, misbehaving, and barking when they shouldn't.
Your first task will be to understand how much exercise your dog needs. Different breeds will require more daily activities like long walks, sufficient space for running, and more intense training or playtime.
If you can meet the dog's demands and stimulate them mentally and physically every day, they might stop barking without encouragement. They'll expend the excess energy and will be more likely to remain calm at home.
- Create a Safe Area for Your Pup
Being left alone is one of the most common causes of unwanted barking. Many dogs develop separation anxiety and bark due to feeling abandoned and unsettled. While you should address separation anxiety itself as soon as possible with proper training, you can remedy the barking issue relatively quickly.
Find space in your home where the pup can spend time while you're away. Ideally, it should be a quiet room where your pet can be isolated from outside distractions. You can also use a dog bed or dog crate, although your dog will likely need additional training before entering the crate on their own. Why not consider a calming dog bed?
It would be best to leave your pup something to play with while you're not around. Consider hard dog toys that also dispense treats – this could be an ideal way for the dog to stay entertained and be rewarded for behaving well.
- Train Your Dog
Special training techniques can go a long way in stopping your dog from barking. In particular, you can desensitise the pup to the common triggers that provoke the behaviour, eventually teaching them to stay calm despite distractions.
Teaching the pup specific commands will also be helpful. Some of the most useful commands include "come," "stay," "quiet," and – believe it or not – "speak" or "bark."
The "come" and "stay" commands will ensure your dog stays away from triggers. If reinforced positively, these commands alone can resolve the issue altogether. "Quiet" is an obvious choice that we've already covered earlier, but "speak" or "bark" might sound counterintuitive.
The reason you'd want to teach your dog to bark on command is to help them understand when barking isn't welcome. This training will also introduce the idea that barking isn't a matter of the dog's choice but rather a type of behaviour that you'll reward only in certain situations.
Of course, training will take some time to produce results. Calmness, patience, and consistency will be your best friends here.
- Leverage Tech Solutions
Your dog might react poorly to training, or it may take too long to stop them from barking. In that case, the answer may lie in technology, especially if you're looking for a quick remedy to unwanted behaviour.
The most frequently used tech for barking prevention includes ultrasonic emitters, soothing collars, spray collars, and specialised dog wraps.
Ultrasonic emitters exist in various forms. You can get a handheld variant or one in the form of a birdhouse. The device emits a startling sound that only your dog can hear, which can prevent them from barking.
Soothing collars may be a good fit for dogs that bark due to stress. This collar contains herbs that can reduce anxiety and calm the dog.
On the other hand, spray collars emit citronella spray whenever the dog barks. Due to the unpleasant taste and smell of the spray and the hissing noise the collar makes when spraying, the dog can be startled and stop barking.
Finally, dog wraps can be helpful with compulsive barkers and over-stimulated or anxious dogs. The wrap applies constant yet mild pressure, inducing a sense of security and calm.
If you opt for a tech solution for excessive barking, it's worth noting that none of the gadgets guarantees success. Some dogs could have an adverse reaction to a particular method, while others might not react to it at all.
Find the Right Way to Keep Your Dog From Barking
Preventing unwanted barking is relatively easy if you employ the correct methods. The best way to ensure the effectiveness of your chosen technique will be to understand how your dog responds to training and reinforcement, as well as what triggers the barking.
Employ an appropriate method, and your pet could learn not to bark. And if no single solution works, combine several until you arrive at the desired result. Approach the problem with patience and positivity, and your pup will become calmer and quieter.