Mary Allen
If you want to stop your dog from barking excessively, you should first find out what is causing the behavior of your four-legged friend. Once it has been found, it is time to tackle the Bell problem, for which we have put together some tips here.
Whether due to breed, boredom, or fear, excessive barking can have a variety of causes.
If Constant Barking is Breed-Related: Here’s How To Stop It
Certain dog breeds just bark more often than others and enjoy doing so — allow them to but in moderation. In the best case, you open up the silence to your darling who needs to communicate commands as barking.
If your dog likes to bark when the doorbell rings, you can try the following: bark three times is okay, then say “Off!” or another command that you use consistently when you want to stop him from barking unwantedly.
When he’s quiet, give him plenty of praise, but calmly so he doesn’t feel excited to bark again. If he does start barking again, play the same game again: praise him as soon as he says “Off!” heard. It will soon understand. It is important that you are patient and do not scold your darling when he barks. It doesn’t understand then that you are angry with him and certainly not why. Instead, it perceives your loud voice as barking from you and may even feel confirmed.
When the Dog Barks From Alertness or Boredom
A dog who is underemployed and out of sheer boredom needs variety for its head and lots of exercises. Take him for an extra-long walk before you go to work and leave him alone. If he has a particularly strong urge to move, you should exercise him by bike and vary the round.
Dog sports such as agility also ensure that your four-legged friend prefers to take a nap instead of barking out of boredom when he is home alone for a few hours. However, this fast-paced sport is not suitable for every dog. If your four-legged friend tends to be hyperactive and would rather be stimulated by agility than exhausted, calmer training methods are better suited for him, which require his concentration and appeal to his fine senses, for example, agility, obedience, trick-dogging, dog dancing, or nose work. Even if your dog is physically restricted or has to rest its joints because of its size, intelligence games and concentration exercises are ideal for it to escape boredom.
A dog that barks at every noise in the stairwell out of alertness should not be allowed to keep watch directly in front of the front door if possible – if your hallway can be closed off by a connecting door, close it and leave your dog in the living area where he can do something less aware of what is happening outside. You can also leave the radio on if you want to get him to stop barking, as this will calm him down and ensure that footsteps in the hallway aren’t the only sound he hears.
Barking Out of Fear & Insecurity
If a dog is unsure and sounds an alarm if just a jogger walks past you, you should reassure him. Keep him on a leash, let him walk beside you, and ignore his behavior. Otherwise, you’ll inadvertently use positive reinforcement and “reward” your dog for his fearful behavior. This also happens when you – out of compassion and with the best of intentions – want to comfort your loved one and talk to him soothingly. Then he thinks he has every reason to be afraid when even his heart man and “pack leader” sees reason to de-escalate the situation. In return, if you behave as if nothing is going on, your dog will understand that there is no reason to be upset and will calm down.
Constant Barking: When is Professional Help Necessary?
Not only can dog sports keep your four-legged friend from getting bored, but they can also strengthen the bond between you and your dog and make them feel safe with you. It is best to get a dog trainer to help your anxious, bored, or overly alert pet from barking. This is especially true if you don’t know why your dog is barking so much.
If your four-legged friend has only been making excessive noises for a short time, although he was usually of the quieter type, a visit to the veterinarian can do no harm. Your dog may be ill and want to let you know by barking. If the vet could not find any physical symptoms, an animal psychologist can help you in addition to the dog trainer. It is very familiar with dog behavior and, in talking to you and dealing with your darling, may be able to find reasons for his undesirably loud behavior that have remained hidden from you so far.