SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Care
Dog Care Tips
How
To Teach My Dog Not To Bark
Unwanted barking is one of the most common
behavior problems in dogs. It is normal for dogs to vocalize
and bark from time to time but many times this behavior escalates
much to the frustration of many dog owners. There are many
causes of unwanted barking. First you must determine why your
dog is barking before you can begin a program of retraining.
You may need help from your animal behaviorist or veterinarian
to do this.
One
cause of unwanted barking is attention seeking barking. You may have inadvertently reinforced this behavior if as a
pup your dog barked a lot and you gave him attention to try
and stop the behavior. As an older dog, he may be exhibiting
this behavior because he is left alone for long periods of
time, does not have appropriate stimulation or exercise, or
is an active dog that needs to have a job to be happy. If you
suspect this is the cause of your dog’s unwanted barking behavior,
you can start to retrain him by making sure first and foremost
that he is getting enough exercise. Make sure to take daily
walks - this also allows him to explore the world around him
which is good mental exercise as well. If you have a local
dog park, take your dog there and let him socialize with other
dogs and people. Take an obedience class - this is good for
mental stimulation and will help you to better communicate
with your dog. Provide many interesting toys to keep your dog
busy while you are not around. Make sure to spend one on one
time with your dog on a daily basis and make it fun so that
your dog learns that he doesn’t need to bark to get your attention.
Another
cause of excessive barking is as a response to something
that your dog is afraid of. Many dogs bark during thunderstorms
or around unfamiliar people. If your dog is barking as a response
to thunderstorms or other loud noises, provide him with a safe
place he can go in these situations such as a crate. Make his
safe place fun by providing good treats such as a Kong filled
with peanut butter to keep him occupied. Play a radio or the
television at a low level to help mask the noise. If your dog
is barking at unfamiliar people, help him get over this fear
by enlisting the help of your friends and neighbors. Have them
walk by and approach your dog. Have them ask him to sit, and
when he does so without barking, have them give him a treat.
Pretty soon, your dog will learn to associate unfamiliar people
with treats and will learn new positive behaviors. If your
dog barks at people and noises that are coming from outside
the house, you may want to limit his access to rooms with windows.
This will help cut down on the unwanted barking behavior.
If your dog is barking when you’re not home, it
could be due to separation anxiety. If your dog is especially attached to
you or has recently experienced a situation of change in his
routine such as divorce, a move, or a death in the family,
this could be the case. To remedy this kind of barking behavior,
you will need to start a course of desensitization. You can
begin to do this by taking very small trips such as just out
to the mailbox and back, while leaving fun toys and yummy treats
for your dog. As your dog learns to behave while you’re gone,
slowly increase the length of time you are gone. To check and
see if your dog is barking when you’re gone, you may need to
use a tape recorder or enlist the help of your neighbors. Separation
anxiety often needs to be treated with medication as well as
desensitization. If you suspect your dog is barking due to
separation anxiety, please consult your veterinarian or animal
behaviorist.
Some people choose to treat their dog’s unwanted barking problems
with bark collars. The most humane bark collar available today
is the citronella collar. These bark collars work by spraying
harmless citronella in your dog’s face whenever he barks. Studies
show a very high rate of success with the use of these kinds
of collars. Using a citronella collar for a period of time
can help to reinforce more positive behaviors.
There are many training tips and tools available to help you
replace unwanted barking with more positive behaviors. If you
need more information, consult your veterinary staff or pet
professional. #
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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