What Can I Do About Excessive Barking?

There is nothing more annoying than a dog that barks all the time. It is a fact that dogs love barking, but it is usually for a good reason. Barking is the only way a dog has to verbally communicate. Every breed of dog in the world, except for the Basenji, barks.

Before you try to break your dog's barking habit, you must determine why he is barking in the first place.

Why do Dogs Bark?

There are numerous reasons your dog may bark. He may bark because he is excited, mad, scared, or happy. Below is a list of the most common reasons dogs bark:

-Barking to control territory -Barking to alert you to something -Barking when they want attention -Barking as a way of greeting -Barking because they are bored/frustrated -Compulsive barking "barking at the dark" -Barking because they are sick or injured

Think of it this way, could you stop talking overnight? Probably not. Barking is just a way of life for a dog, and one that is going to be there no matter what. It's the way they express themselves, so you will never be able to totally stop barking.

Can I Control Excessive/Compulsive Barking in My Dog?

It is possible, yes, but not easy. First, you must know why your dog is barking so much. Some questions to ask yourself are:

-When is he barking? -What is he barking at? -Are there specific triggers that set his barking off?

Once you determine the cause of his excessive barking, you can begin the process to stop it. If you find that he is barking to protect his territory, or when he is scared, you don't need to correct his barking. If you try to prevent your pet from barking to protect his territory, especially by using negative means, it can lead to worse issues such as aggressive behavior or biting. Even if you successfully get him to stop barking to protect his territory, their instinct to protect it is still there.

One way to help curb this type of barking is by becoming the alpha of the household. Make sure he knows you are the master and commander of your house and property, and it is your job, not his, to protect it.

Another thing you can try is to literally block things from his view that are outside his territory. If he stays inside, keep your blinds closed. If he's an outside dog, build a privacy fence so he can't see the kid riding his bike down the street or another dog across the block. If he can't see "potential threats" to his territory, he won't try to alert you to them.

Anxiety can also be a strong reason your dog is barking. If he has anxiety issues, he'll bark to try to get attention, and will continue until you come out to see him. If you go outside every time your dog barks, this reinforces the behavior because they get the satisfaction of getting your true attention. To try to stop this type of barking, try ignoring your dog for extended periods of time. Start with 10 or 15 minutes, and go up from there. If it's an inside dog and he barks as soon as you come home, especially if you are in the habit of playing with him right away, try ignoring him for a few minutes. By doing this, you are teaching him that just because you come home it doesn't mean that he gets immediate attention.

If you give your dog a stern "stop", or similar command, when he barks for no reason, and rewarding him when there is, you can train him to bark only when needed. For example, if he barks when a stranger walks up to the door, reward him with praise. If he barks when a family member or a friend of yours that is often at your home comes to the door, tell him "stop." He will begin to learn friend from foe if you will. You can also try to teach your dog different commands for different types of barking situations. There are many resources to find information on how to train your dog. By using these, some common sense, and patience, you can help control your dog's barking problem, and make peace with your neighbors.

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