Welcome to our “Detraining Your Pet” series, where we help you “detrain” your pet from those naughty or boring bad habits and get them back to being the best boys and girls.
Does your dog tell you when each a bird, a squirrel, a dog, a cat and a leaf pass by the window? Do they notify the whole neighborhood when there is a visitor at your front door? Barking is a natural instinct for dogs, but sometimes their natural behavior can be a bit… excessive for you and your neighbors.
Dogs bark for many reasons, so if you’re wondering, “How can I stop my dog from barking?” it is important to get to the root of the cause. Are they bored? Anxious? To be territorial? Once you figure out what’s triggering your dog barking, you can start freeing him from this loud and annoying habit (and still be friends with your neighbors).
What makes your dog bark?
If your dog barks at everything he sees, he’s probably a territorial barker and he’s trying to protect his family and home. Sometimes that can be a good thing, like barking to warn off potential intruders. But if they bark at anything and everything that moves, that’s not so good.
A social barker will join the barking chorus of neighborhood dogs. Think of it like dog social media – it’s how dogs communicate when they can’t see each other. But even dogs need to put the “phone” down and have some quiet time.
Bored dogs use barking for entertainment or to let you know they want attention. Keep in mind that yelling “Stop barking!” gives them the attention they want, even if it’s negative, which is why they keep barking. The other problem with a bored dog is that sometimes he does more than bark – he finds other things to occupy his time like chewing on the sofa or digging a hole in the carpet.
Dogs can also bark because they are anxious or frightened. Separation anxiety can cause excessive barking and can also lead to destructive or even aggressive behaviors. Mental stimulation can help, but if you suspect your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, you should consult your veterinarian about the best treatment plan for your dog.
The sound of your dog’s bark can tell you a lot about the meaning of his bark. A long streak of solo barking usually means your dog is feeling lonely, while a quick streak of barking means something is wrong.
Keep your barker busy
Providing your dog with plenty of mental stimulation can help prevent boredom and help him forget about distractions outside or what neighborhood dogs are saying. Interactive toys are a great way to keep your dog busy. They usually work by getting your dog to use their problem solving skills to solve a puzzle and get a reward. You can also get puzzle toys that move around for your dog to get physical and mental exercise.
However, it is important to rotate the toys every few days. If your dog masters the puzzle, he’ll get to the treat pretty quickly and he’ll start to get bored again. Providing them with different types of toys will also help delay boredom while they wait for you to come home.
If your dog is barking while you’re out, it’s a little hard to do much or know it’s going on (until a neighbor knocks on your door). To keep an eye on your dog when you’re away from home, you can invest in a pet camera. Some offer treat-dispensing capabilities, so you can randomly dispense treats and have your dog wondering when the next treat is coming. Some also have two-way audio that sends notifications when your dog barks so you can say “Hey, I’m looking at you.”
Ensuring your dog gets plenty of exercise can also help reduce attention-seeking or boredom-seeking barking. If he’s napping because he’s exhausted, he probably won’t bark (unless he’s dreaming).
Teach your dog to stop barking
The first step is to try to find out what triggers your dog’s excessive barking. Think about when they bark. Is it a particular time of day? What happens at this time? If you can figure out what’s causing them to bark, you might be able to remove the trigger. For example, if he always barks at the postman, move him to another room at mail time.
Remember that if your dog is barking because he sees something interesting outside and you let him out, he will quickly understand that the barking is taking him where he wants to be, outside with the interesting “thing”. Instead, ignore him when he barks and reward him when he’s quiet.
Ignoring the constant barking can be difficult, but don’t give in no matter how loud and squeaky the barking gets. When you hear a pause in the barking, wait a few seconds, then give your dog a treat or reward. Keep a rewarding silence, wait a few more seconds before handing the treat each time. Eventually, you can reward your dog with hugs instead of a treat. It can also be helpful to randomly reward them when they don’t bark, which shows them that silence is a good thing.
It’s important to be consistent with your no-barking policy. It will be confusing to your dog if he is allowed to bark at a visitor at the front door, but he is not allowed to bark at the squirrel taunting him from the back fence. If your dog barks excitedly when visitors arrive, ask your friends to ignore it until the barking stops and they are calm.
De-educating your dog against excessive barking will take patience, time, and possibly a good set of earplugs. Ignoring them while they bark and providing them with plenty of physical and mental stimulation can help bring some peace and quiet to your home. If you’re still having trouble managing your dog’s barking, consult your veterinarian or a certified trainer for advice.
RELATED POST: Peculiar Pet Facts: Dogs Can ‘Talk’ To Each Other
