Dog Training > Training for Dog Problems > Dog Training - Barking

Dog Training - Barking

Dog owners have many reasons for being interested in effective methods of dog training. Barking may be a primary issue for many dog owners, especially if they are living in close quarters with neighbors nearby.

If your dog barks, then he is really just doing something that comes naturally. It's unrealistic to expect your dog to never bark. However, with the proper type of dog training, barking can be brought under control. To determine the best methods of dog training, barking must be analyzed to find out the cause.

Some dogs bark because they are consistently left alone for long periods of time. They get bored and decide to try a little barking. For the dog, this is enough fun to keep it up. So once they start, they don't want to stop.

You may have actually trained your dog to bark. When your dog barks, do you do something for him? Open the door, get treat, play with him, speak to him? Through this sort of unintentional dog training, barking has become a way for your dog to get your attention.

If your dog is barking because he's lonely and bored, then you may be able to lessen your dog's barking with more exercise, playtime, and dog training. Barking will be a less attractive option for your dog if he's tired out from a quick-paced training session.

Dogs that stay in a back yard or inside a crate most of the day need some social exercise. Being confined to a small, enclosed area can be extremely frustrating for most dogs. Your dog is surrounded by a great big world full of smells and sounds, and you need to let him experience this world a little. Dogs are also social animals, not loners. A few canine friends for your dog might be even more effective at controlling barking than dog training. Barking often arises out of loneliness.

When you stop to think about it, you really don't want to teach your dog to stop barking completely. The trick is to teach your dog to bark appropriately. This is an issue that can be effectively addressed through dog training. Barking is a natural behavior like using the bathroom. If dogs can be trained to eliminate on command and hold it otherwise, it makes sense that they can be taught to stop barking on command.

Come up with a good command to stop barking, maybe for example, "stop barking!" When your dog barks (for good reason), praise him for the alert after a few barks. Then give him the command to stop barking, while at the same time holding a treat in front of his nose. Since most dogs can't bark and sniff at the same time, he'll stop barking. Immediately begin praising your dog for being quiet. After a few seconds of quiet, give him the treat. Increase the required "quiet time" every time your dog barks.

If your dog has been barking excessively for some time, then don't expect to get things under control right away. Maybe after a few weeks of consistent dog training, barking patterns will start to modify. It's imperative that you keep at it consistently, until your dog is barking for the right reasons and for the right amount of time.

Remember, you really need to understand why your dog is barking. Once you've determined the cause, then you'll know the best way to proceed with your dog training. Barking is not an impossible behavior to control. Just like all natural behavior, it can be modified. With consistent, positive dog training, barking can be brought under control.