How To Stop A Dog From Barking
Do you have a dog that barks at everything? If so, you are certainly not alone.
A barking dog is actually quite common but as you will discover in this article, also a behavior that can be solved. Keep in mind that dogs are going to bark because that is what they do but the goal is to teach your dog only to bark when appropriate and not at every moving thing outside.
The most common reason dogs bark is due to boredom. Many dog breeds need and want lots of affection and of course, they all need exercise and playtime. Feeling a bit neglected, the dog will try to get your attention the best way he knows how – barking. If you find yourself with this problem, you first need to let your dog know that his constant barking is not going to work. Chances are you have discovered that yelling "BE QUIET" does not work well.
Keep in mind that the human language is inaudible to your dog. Instead, he will connect your words and the tone of your voice with certain actions. Therefore, you can train your dog better by using the right body language. For instance, stop reassuring your dog that things are fine. If your dog barks during the night, get up one time to look outside. Seeing nothing, tell him things are okay in a calm voice, pet him, and then go back to bed. By getting excited will work him up to bark more.
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You also want to start your puppy out by providing praise and petting when he does something right. Now, that does not mean you cannot pet him but use praise when he really has good behavior or achieves a certain goal. This way, he will understand that he gets extra attention when he listens to your commands. Otherwise, you could tell him repeatedly to stop barking without much response. However, if you tell him to stop barking and he does, reach down to pet him and praise him in a calm but controlling voice. Typically, positive reinforcement is much more effective than discipline.
For the dog that barks, while you are gone (neighbors are likely to tell you), stop telling him goodbye. When you leave, simply say to your dog, "I’ll be right back". Stop making a fuss over leaving, which builds a scenario of anxiety, leading to boredom. In other words, stop becoming exciting when you leave and return. Making the process of coming and going humdrum instead of a big deal, you will find that your dog barks less when you are out of the home.
Finally, purchase a number of new toys or dog products on the market that can keep him busy while you are gone. Many of these toys include hide and seek actions so he has something to do. You can also take favorite toys and hide them throughout the house to help curb boredom. Most often, this will do wonders for excessive barking.
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