How do I stop my dog barking?
Controlling the noise level of your dog is an important part
of being a responsible owner. After all, excessive barking can
be annoying, not just for you but for your neighbours as
well.
Why all the noise
The first step to managing the problem is to understand why
a dog barks. Some dogs will bark to let you know they want
something. Perhaps they are hungry, thirsty or just want to
play.
When this becomes unreasonable, it is time to teach him
other ways to attract your attention; like pawing or waiting by
the door or bowl.
Playtime
Many dogs will bark when they see other dogs to invite them
to come and play. This is perfectly normal, but it is up to you
to decide how much barking is acceptable and make your dog wait
to play until he can be quiet.
Home alone
Your dog may bark if left alone. Try leaving some music on,
or playing the radio to provide familiar human noise. You can
also give him some toys that require extended work and
attention to keep him occupied while you're out.
A good way of reducing anxiety is to give your dog an old
unwashed piece of clothing or anything that will smell strongly
of his family.
Once you are home, be sure to enjoy some vigorous play and
exercise with your dog. He'll have missed you and there's no
better way of re-establishing the bond.
On guard
One of the most common reasons for a dog to bark is as an
alarm. If your dog sees someone approaching the house he will
bark to let you know. Since he sees you as the head of the
pack, he will want you to investigate.
Some dogs have been bred to sound the alarm and this is a
behaviour you may wish to encourage. Let your dog bark to get
your attention but silence him once you are sure there is no
intruder.
Stick to a system
In all aspects of dog training you need to have a system.
Dogs respond to routine and this will greatly increase your
chances of success. You may have already been to obedience
classes with your puppy, if you didn't, then why not give it a
go now? It's never too late to teach old dogs new tricks and
they are great places to learn skills in handling your dog.
Hush
One way to teach your dog a 'hush' command is to silence or
distract him every time he barks. Use something that makes a
loud noise, like a can full of coins, to get his attention then
issue a firm 'hush' command.
When your dog stops barking, praise and reward him. Never
shout when you want him to stop, this can cause anxiety and
undermine any learning. Also, you can easily confuse your dog
if he thinks you are barking too. Yelling only reinforces the
barking habit.
To summarise
Training is always the best way to correct your dog's
behaviour. Remember though, that most barking is a normal part
of being a dog. It is only when it becomes unreasonable and
disrupting that you need to take action.
If the barking persists, your vet will be able to give
additional advice and may even suggest some other
techniques.