Saturday, June 13, 2009

How to Stop Your Dog Barking

By Simone Fitzgerald

Whether you are dealing with a puppy with shrill little yelps or with an older dog with a baritone bay, you'll discover that you are going to need to work on getting your dog's barking under control! Dogs bark by instinct, but you'll find that there are definitely things that you can do to halt this behavior.

There are different things to keep in mind when you are working to stop your dogs barking behavior. There are many different methods and you may have to try more than one. It just takes time and work to find what works.

The first thing you should do is figure out why your dog is barking. There is always a reason for a dog to bark, but not all the reasons may seem obvious. One of the most useful reasons for barking and the most obvious is to alert you to something.

For most dogs, puppies especially, barking is a way to get attention. Some dogs will also bark when startled. However, the most common reason for barking is simply out of boredom or due to feeling lonely. A dog often barks to draw people to him because he feels alone. A bored dog barks just to let off some energy.

It is helpful to understand what kind of barker your dog is. Think about their habits. Has your dog always been a barker? In an older dog there may be more to think about. Do keep in mind that it is not impossible to retrain an old dog and stop his barking. It just takes commitment.

It is easy to use shouting to stop the barking, but this is not a good solution. You will just confuse the dog. He may see it as a game or even be afraid which can lead to more barking. A better idea is to choose a simple word to use as a command. Something like enough or quiet can be good choices. Everyone in the family should use the word to stop barking. You can also spritz the dog with water which may help him to associate barking with an unpleasant experience which can stop it.

Is your dog feeling alone? Barking is often a sign that a dog is feeling lonely. You should make it a routine to involve your dog with your family and spend enough time with him. You want him to be happy and to feel secure so that when he is alone he knows it will not be for long. He will be happier which will lead to less barking due to loneliness. He needs to feel like he is part of the pack because dogs are natural pack animals. Make him feel secure and that can help reduce lonely barking.

Sometimes you may not be able to find the reason for your dogs barking. It can be helpful to consult with a veterinarian or animal specialist. They can help you to find underlying reasons that may not have been obvious. It is always possible to stop barking, so just be persistent.

About the Author:

>
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

0 comments: