One of the most common reasons that dogs are brought to an animal shelter is because of their barking. Owners and / or neighbors cannot tolerate the noise created by barking.
When considering getting a dog, it is very important to check the characteristics of the breed you are considering, as some breeds are natural “barkers.” If possible, consult the parents, ask the breeder questions, and talk to people of the same breed and get their opinion. Even if you are considering a mixed breed dog, look at the breeds that included the composition of the dog.
Excessive barking can spell the end of a relationship with a pet before it has a chance to begin.
why do the dogs bark?
Well, the truth is that it is fun. It is also a form of communication. A dog’s barking can be a warning, it can be a welcome sound, or it can be a constantly annoying noise.
In case you didn’t know, dogs have many varieties of “bark,” from a soft “wow” to a very loud type of bark. Each bark means something to the dog. A bark can signify territorial protection, a demonstration of dominance, or an expression of a specific need. If you can develop a good “barking ear,” you can understand the differences.
Why do some dogs bark so much?
Believe it or not, some of this can be traced to our own behavior towards our dogs or it can be a natural genetic trait. In many ways we condition them to bark.
Think about it, “a barking dog gets attention” and that’s what most dogs want. The fact that we may be berating the dog doesn’t matter, as long as the dog gets what it wants.
Sometimes dogs bark because they are uncomfortable. Your dog may be hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, or having to relieve himself. If it doesn’t bark, how will you know?
Make sure your dog is protected from heat and / or rain if he’s outside, along with plenty of water.
Don’t tie up a dog and expect it to be quiet all day. A leashed dog can hang onto so many things and possibly injure himself, plus being in one place all day is “BORING”. A dog needs physical exercise and stimulation.
An outside dog has many things that make him bark, other dogs bark, truck and car noise, people walking, boredom and loneliness.
To alleviate the stress and anxiety your dog is feeling, if you are not available to do this every day, hire a neighborhood teenager to walk your dog every day and possibly play with him for a while. Exercise is a great stress reliever and a tired dog will bark less.
Some dogs feel very needy and will constantly bark to get your attention.
To remedy a dog that barks in need, IT WILL HAVE A LOT OF PATIENCE ON YOUR PART.
Why?
Simply because you’re going to have to IGNORE the barking and the dog. Easily said, but very difficult to do.
A dog in need seeks any type of attention and therefore you should NOT talk to him, look at him or approach him while he barks.
Yelling out loud or, for that matter, yelling at the dog to “shut up” won’t help at all. The yelling is once again giving the dog the attention it wants, plus it will think you are playing with it.
Hitting, spanking, or hitting the dog will also not give a good result. You will create fear in the dog and when it sees you, it will stop, but turn your back on it and it will do it again.
Once the dog stops barking, praise, pets and treats are in order.
This won’t be a quick fix, but for it to work, you need to be consistent and ignore the dog, even if you might be tempted to tape his mouth shut.
The behavior pattern can also be reconditioned by having the dog do something different when he begins to bark, such as fetching a toy and receiving a treat when he finds it. Giving the dog a “job” that distracts him from the barking is the thought behind this idea.
Once the training process begins, it is very important that you do not deviate from it for any reason until the dog has the “no barking” thought firmly implanted in his head.
It is true that there are times when you want the dog to bark, so choose the barking behavior that bothers him the most and work only on that.
If you live in an apartment and your dog barks while you are away, there are several reasons for this, and each is handled differently.
Separation anxiety will cause a dog to bark constantly. Many times you, the owner, are the cause. If you worry about leaving the dog while you get ready and you find yourself going through all that wonderful “doggy talk” that we have known. IN ORDER TO!
What you are doing is creating nervous anxiety and annoying your dog.
Instead, don’t look, talk, or pet your dog as he prepares to leave. Ignore your pet completely, don’t even think about him / her during the grooming process. Focus on work or whatever you are going to do.
Right before you’re ready to head out the door, get your pet’s favorite toy and various treats, put them in a room away from the door, and without a GOODBYE, leave. A nine out of ten chance that your dog will accept the fact that you are gone and will keep quiet.
Believe it or not, pets sense our anxiety and respond to it.
If outside noises are the trigger for your pet’s barking, try keeping it in a room that is not close to the street. Play a radio with soft classical music or keep the television down while you are away, keep the blinds closed, and do something to keep the dog away from the windows. Use empty boxes on the chair or sofa to prevent your pet from climbing on the furniture and looking out the window.
Now, if you have a dog that for the most part stays outside and its barking annoys your neighbors. That is a little more complicated, since he is not at home to take control of the situation. I do not strongly believe in using “mechanical” things to prevent a dog from misbehaving, however I know that sometimes it is the only way to control an annoying habit, when you are not there to take control.
There are “electronic outdoor ultrasonic systems” that are either powered by an adapter or battery operated, emit a high-pitched sound that only the dog can hear, and stop when the dog stops barking. They are available for large and small patios. I have been told that they are quite reliable in stopping unnecessary barking.
Because inside the house or apartment there is another gadget similar to the one in the patio, which even allows you to use your voice commands to talk to the dog.
I would advise researching these items, only if all else fails and you are at your wits end.
Solving the barking problem will take time and effort, as well as patience and understanding. Try to determine “why” your dog is barking, if you can solve that problem, you are well on your way to the solution.
Exercise and socialization are a very important part of a dog’s life. A dog is not supposed to sit and be quiet. Dogs were created to be hunters and protectors, we are the ones who domesticate them.
Dogs lived in the wild in packs, had a lot of fun with each other, obeyed the rules of the pack, and followed a leader. We are the ones who change that and as a result we have to do our part.
Now we are the leaders, we are the “alpha dog”, and that does not mean beating the dog into submission, it means providing exercise, social stimulation, proper nutrition, medical care and, most of all, love.