Mary Allen
It is perfectly normal for your dog to bark. Dogs use their skull to express a variety of emotions and one skull can mean different things depending on the situation. Believing that your dog will never bark is unreasonable – however, excessive barking can be a problematic behavior. There are also other things that many do not tell you about being a dog owner.
Why Do Dogs Bark Excessively?
For your dog to be a good four-legged citizen, it needs to learn when to bark and when to be quiet. Part of your job as a dog owner is to teach your dog what matters. Start working on the problem as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to change the behavior.
Teaching your dog a “talk/silence” command is a good idea. However, this is easier said than done. The goal of these commands is to teach the dog to bark and be quiet on command. This can take the dog several weeks to learn, so keep working on it, or take the help of a dog trainer. If your dog has undergone extensive training but still continues to bark in an exaggerated way, you must try to solve the underlying problems and find the root of the barking.
Medical problems
Some dogs bark because they are in pain or feel some kind of discomfort. Find out if your dog is extra sore anywhere; he will bark if it hurts where you touch.
Aging dogs
As dogs get older, it is common for them to start barking more. Some older dogs may start barking and continue for several hours – completely unaware of what they are doing. In addition to cognitive problems, which can be equated with Alzheimer’s disease, aging dogs can suffer from visual impairment, deafness, or body pain that causes them to bark.
Fear can make your dog bark
If your dog is scared, it will express the fear in the form of barking. This can happen at home as well as elsewhere and the dog indicates that it is something it is afraid of. It could be a person, a loud noise (such as fireworks or thunder), or a strange (or new) situation.
The dog guards its territory
Dogs can become territorial if a new person or dog enters what they consider to be their territory. They feel ownership of their area and want to protect it. A dog’s territory can be their home, their garden, or their basket. If your dog only barks at such times, this is probably the reason.
Loneliness can affect barking
Dogs are herd animals and thus prefer company. If they are alone for too long, they may start barking to express their dissatisfaction. The dog may also long for the company of his master or mistress and not just the company of another dog. A bored dog, or a dog that does not get enough stimulation (mental as well as physical), can also bark.
Greeting phrase or need for attention
If the dog greets you by barking, this is usually a friendly bark. However, it can be a little too much if the dog barks at everyone it hits. The skull may also be due to your dog being hungry, needing to go for a walk, or simply asking for some attention.
Separation anxiety
Dogs that do not like to be left alone suffer from separation anxiety. In addition to barking, dogs suffering from this tend to exhibit other compulsive behaviors.
How to Get Rid of Excessive Barking
The best way to prevent barking is, first and foremost, to try to avoid or remove the root of the behavior. You should also avoid encouraging the behavior. Instead, give your dog something else to focus on.
See a veterinarian for your dog’s barking
If your dog suddenly becomes addicted to this behavior, it may be a good idea to contact your veterinarian for a health check-up. The veterinarian can then rule out medical reasons as the basis for the dog’s behavior and help you develop a plan based on your dog’s needs. An aging dog with excessive barking is likely to have other medical needs and is in need of a different plan than a young dog. Regarding old dogs, try to find the cause of the barking. Limit the dog’s social interaction and give the dog access to a slightly smaller area where it can take it easy. You can, for example, let the dog have access to only a couple of rooms in the home, instead of allowing him to move freely throughout the house.
Modify the behavior of your dog
To stop barking due to fear, loneliness, need for attention, or territory marking, try to find the basis for the behavior. If possible, remove the trigger from the dog’s life and start working on changing the behavior. Start with simple commands such as “sit” and “lie down” to shift focus away from barking and encourage the dog when it does as you say. Give your dog plenty of exercises; this means that it has less pent-up energy and therefore becomes calmer. Mental stimulation in the form of chewing toys or puzzles is also a good option.
Separation anxiety
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, try to avoid leaving the dog alone for too long. You can get help from a dog trainer or a training program to “learn” about the dog to be left by a master or mistress. This type of training can take time, so be patient.
What not to do:
There are a few things to avoid if your dog barks too much:
- Avoid comforting, petting, or feeding the dog when it barks and asks for attention. Clapping and comforting encourage the behavior and reinforce it.
- Never yell at your dog. Not only will it not help the dog to understand that it should not bark, but it may even strengthen the skull even more.
- Never hit your dog or use appliances such as electric collars. Not only is this extremely painful and painful for the dog, but many dogs also learn to understand how they work and find ways to fool them.
- Do not let your dog bark constantly when it is outdoors. You will hardly teach the dog when to be quiet by shouting at it across the yard. It is also an extremely effective way to become unfamiliar with your neighbors.