We all know that when you get a dog you can expect to hear barking. But what if your dog barks uncontrollably? It can often end up a little maddening when your dog barks all the time. Thankfully there are things we can do to help.
Why Does My Dog Bark So Much?
Sometimes dogs can be very dominant and they protective of what they perceive to be their “dens.” They can be so protective that they feel compelled to stand at the door or window barking at everything that moves, all day, because they want to protect us and their home.
How to Help Stop the Barking?
Ignore them:
The hardest thing for many owners to believe is that ignoring a barking dog can help them learn to not bark. By ignoring them every time they bark because they want something (i.e. walk, food, play, etc) they will learn that barking doesn’t always work in getting what they want.
Desensitize your dog:
Sometimes it’s as simple as getting your dog used and comfortable to stimuli outside of the home. Check out this great idea to desensitize your dog from the Humane Society:
Example: barking at dogs walking with their humans
- Have a friend with a dog stand out of sight or far enough away so your dog won’t bark at the other dog.
- As your friend and her dog come into view, start feeding your dog lots of very yummy treats.
- Stop feeding treats as soon as your friend and her dog disappear from view.
- Repeat the process multiple times
- Remember not to try to progress too quickly as it may take days or weeks before your dog can pay attention to you and the treats without barking at the other dog.
Teach your dog the “quiet” command
First, you actually have to teach your dog to “speak” first. Give your dog the command to “speak,” wait for him to bark two or three times, and then put out a tasty treat in front of his nose. When he stops barking to sniff the treat, praise him and give him the treat. Repeat until he starts barking as soon as you say “speak.”
Then, once they learn to “speak” you can piggyback off that lesson and teach them to be quiet. Start by giving your dog the “speak” command. When he starts barking, say “quiet” and hold out a treat in front of his nose. Praise him for being quiet and give him the treat.
If you try all of these and nothing seems to work then make sure to reach out to your vet. There may be some underlying cause of their barking. Also, they can give your recommendations for behavior classes or specialists that may be able to help.
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