Stop my Barking Dog
Updated: Jan 21, 2022
How can I stop my barking dog?
Your dog barks; you tell him to stop. Your Dog Barks; You Tell Him To Stop. YOUR DOG BARKS; YOU TELL HIM TO STOP. YOUR DOG BARKS; YOU TELL HIM TO STOP!!! Congratulations! You and your dog are now barking together!!!
Before you can stop your dog from barking, try to determine what the cause is:
lack of physical and/or mental exercise
isolating your dog for extended periods of time
boredom
loneliness or separation anxiety
After you determine the cause of your dog’s barking, you can help find a solution. You may try these yourself or work with a trainer.
give your dog more and appropriate physical and mental exercise
the right kind of play
especially, the right kind of training
One contributor of your dog’s barking while you are away may be excessive petting while you are home. If your dog asks to be petted and you want to comply, have him sit first and then pet him.
During the day, praise him when he is quiet. If you take his good behavior for granted and only pay attention to his misbehavior, you are unintentionally reinforcing the behavior you want to change.
Do you want your dog never to bark? Probably not. Do you want him to bark at appropriate times or to shorten the time he is barking? Probably. Then teach him to bark at those times.
There are some training tools that may help to stop your dog’s barking or some calming products to stop barking.
If your dog has separation anxiety, it is difficult to try to help your dog overcome separation anxiety without the help of a qualified trainer. You may have some success with reading books or articles about dog separation anxiety, but it is such a complex issue that you likely will need the help of a certified behavior consultant - like me!
These are only partial solutions and need to be applied in conjunction with a reward-based training program from a qualified trainer. Learn how to show him acceptable behavior in a way that makes sense to him and to you so you are both working together toward a common goal.
Read more about solving Dog Behavior Problems.
Please have patience. Habits do not change overnight. Give yourself and your dog a chance.
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Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It does not replace a consultation with a dog trainer, dog behavior consultant, or veterinarian and may not be used to diagnose or treat any conditions in your dog.
If you need help with puppy or dog training, we do both private in-person and virtual lessons via Zoom. Please contact us by calling or texting (310) 804-2392 or sending an email to caryl@DoggieManners.com . We look forward to working with you.