If your dog continuously barks, it might be an indication that there's a problem. If you have a barking dog, no matter what the reason is, you can prevent problems in your home and with other family members by addressing the issue as soon as possible. It's not good for dogs to bark excessively or erratically. Taking time to teach your pup to stop barking unnecessarily will help them feel more confident and strengthen your connection.

WHY DOGS BARK

Dogs bark for many reasons, such as when they're playing or want your attention. They might also bark out of boredom, anxiety, or fear. Some common situations that lead to compulsive barking are:

  • Other dogs
  • House visitors
  • Leaving your dog alone
  • Nighttime

The first step doesn't just train your dog to stop barking, but also begins with understanding why your dog is barking excessively. Could it be that they're feeling anxious, searching for attention, or trying to let you know of something? Or are they merely frustrated?

It will take time and patience to teach your dog to stop barking, but the best moment to begin is now. The more time your dog spends displaying a typical behavior, the more ingrained it becomes.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Positive reinforcement is a training technique that encourages good behavior, such as stopping barking or remaining quiet. Pay close attention to your dog and offer them with attention, affection, or a training treat whenever they're being calm and quiet. With practice, your dog will realize that they are rewarded for not bark. Negative punishment has the potential to backfire in the opposite direction. Punishment does not teach dogs how you want them to act and may cause them to be scared.

BE CONSISTENT

If you start shouting while your dog is already barking, they might think you want to join in and will bark even more! Be sure to use a calm yet firm voice when talking to them during training. Dogs don't understand words the way we do unless we teach them. So pick one specific word as your verbal cue, like "quiet", then follow up with a treat every time they display that behavior calmly.

Once your dog knows the cue and associates it with being quiet, begin using it only when you want them stop barking. If successful, give them their reward immediately afterward."

MINIMIZE TRIGGERS

Training your dog is an continuous journey, but not a 24/7 job. There will be moments when no matter how much you train your pup, they still won't stop barking--and in these cases avoid triggers as best as possible. For example, let's say your dog barks incessantly at every person or car that passes by your house while you're trying to work from another room. A quick fix for this would be to close the curtains so that way there's no opportunity to reinforce the bad habit.

DON'T REWARD BARKING

If your dog ignores you when you try to cue them verbally, withdraw your attention from them by walking away for a short time. This will show your dog that they won't be rewarded with more of your attention if they keep barking. If your dog is not barking, then please reward them so that they understand they are behaving correctly. If they continue to bark despite being given the cue to stop, do not give them a treat as this will only further confuse them. It's crucial to be consistent with dogs in training, so never praise nor encourage your dog to bark- even if you think it's cute when they see you and get excited.

TEACH AN ALTERNATIVE

Look at what sets off your dog's barking. You want to catch the moment before your dog begins barking and reward different behavior to interrupt the pattern. If you have a friend or family member approaching your door slowly to assist with training, it's possible that they're unaware of how far away they are. Tell your dog to sit or lie down before they start barking. If they comply, compliment and give them a treat. It will take time for them to learn what behavior is required in various settings, but with enough repetition it will happen.

DISCOURAGE EXCESSIVE BARKING

There are steps you can take to prevent excessive barking from developing in the first place, in addition to teaching your dog to stop yapping.

  • Plenty of Exercise
  • Maintain Consistent Schedule
  • Enrichment Activities
  • Use White Noise

We know having a dog that is constantly barking can be incredibly exhausting. With a little time and patience, you can work through this with your friend. What techniques have you tried to help ease your ears from excessive barking? Feel free to share them in the comments to hopefully help other barking-dog owners.