Barking
Dogs bark — it’s part of how they communicate. However, if your pup barks non-stop at anything and everything, it becomes a problem. Not only is it a nuisance for your neighbors (and yourself) but it’s stressful for your dog.
That’s where dog barking training comes in. It’s absolutely possible to use dog training to stop barking. You just need a few tools and some patience.
Why Dogs Bark
Before you can address the behavior or use any dog barking training tools, you need to figure out why your dog is barking. If you don’t understand what your pup is trying to communicate, you can’t get to the bottom of it to help them stop using dog barking training. Here are a few reasons dogs bark:
- Territorial: when a person or animal enters the area your dog thinks of as “theirs,” they bark to warn the interloper to back off
- Fear/alarm: some dogs bark when they get startled or surprised
- Boredom/loneliness: dogs left alone for long hours may bark to express their displeasure
- Greeting/play: when saying “hi” to people or other dogs, some dogs bark happily
- Separation anxiety: similar to loneliness, some dogs experience intense separation anxiety when left alone and may bark excessively
- Compulsive barking: when dogs bark seemingly for no reason/not in response to any stimuli
Once you figure out the reason behind your dog’s excessive barking, then you can use dog barking training to stop the behavior.
Dog Barking Training Tools and Tips
You really only need one tool when doing dog training to stop barking: tasty treats. Or, if your dog is toy-motivated, their favorite toy. Here are a few methods to try:
- Remove the motivation/stimulus. Your dog gets something they enjoy from barking. Figure out what it is and remove it. For example, if they bark at passersby through your living room window, close the curtains.
- Ignore them. If your dog barks for attention, completely ignore them until they quiet down. No touching, no talking, no eye contact during this dog barking training. Once they stop barking, immediately give them a treat and praise. Gradually lengthen the amount of time they must be quiet to receive a treat.
- Desensitize them to the stimulus. If your dog barks at other dogs on walks, for example, start with a friend’s dog far away. Feed them treats as you gradually work to close the distance. This can take days and many training sessions, so be patient.
Enroll in our Free Training Workshop
If you’re struggling to curb your dog’s barking, enroll in our free workshop. In this course, we teach you the same dog barking training tips we use to train service dogs to be quiet and well-behaved. You’ll also learn how to handle housebreaking, leash pulling, and so much more. Enroll today!
