Why do some dogs bark so much and how to stop a dog barking, the solutions to both these questions are described in detail in this article. If your dog barks more than you would like, you are not alone. Dog owners report that this is one of the annoying behaviors they encounter, hence knowing how to stop a dog barking is a sought after skill. The first step in stopping a dog barking is to first identify the underlying cause of the barking.
How to Stop a Dog Barking
In a short time we will start to explain how to stop a dog barking, first however it’s important to understand why dogs bark. Attention seeking is one of the most frequent causes of barking. Puppies get attention from their masters at a young age by barking. This trait is often shown in older dogs that have been left alone for long periods of time, that need more exercise, and dogs that are not mentally challenged often enough.
If this is the reason your dog’s barking, start to take action to remedy the problem today. Try to take your dog for a walk once a day where possible. Obedience train your dog a few times each week and play fun interesting games with him. Give him a few new toys so that he can entertain himself when he’s alone. Give your dog some 1 on 1 time every day for at least 5 minutes.
Another common cause of barking is fear. If you dog is afraid of loud noises he may start barking. If this is the case with your dog, put him somewhere he feels safe such as in his crate. Give him a treat of his favorite toy and let him know that everything is ok. Sometimes a radio playing in the background helps to calm the situation.
The last common cause of barking is separation anxiety. Separation anxiety usually affects dogs if they are extremely attached to you or have been through some kind of recent change (such as moved houses, divorce, death in the family etc). If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you need to slowly show him that you are not going far away and will return. To start doing this, go out of the house and leave your dog inside. Return 1 minute later, if your dog hasn’t barked, give him a treat. Repeat this later on, this time for 5 minutes. Work your way up to a time you are happy with.
If you have tried the methods above and you haven’t managed to stop your dog barking, you could try a Citronella collar. Not everyone is a fan of these collars but they do seem to solve the problem in many cases.
