Barking is a natural means of communication for a dog. Dog barking can signify needs, protection, and dominance. There are many different types of barks, and different tones may have different meanings.
Some breeds are simply “barking dogs”. These may include German Shepherds, Dobermans or Bloodhounds. There are those small breed dogs who seem to love the sound of their own voices, and will bark for any apparent reason. These include Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and Poodles.
Dogs like to communicate as much as possible, because they feel like the Alpha dog. If barking gets out of hand, it is important to be able to train your dog into realizing that YOU are the Alpha, and not him. Dogs always have a reason for their barking. The first step in training a dog to stop barking is to find out why he is barking in the first place. There are many reasons why your dog may bark. Some barking may actually be good. Training your dog to bark during certain occasions may be beneficial for your household.
Reasons Your Dog May Bark
Barking at night - Your dog may be barking at night simply out of loneliness or boredom. This may happen especially if you keep your dog outdoors at night. Another reason for barking at night is because your dog has excess energy. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise during the day, he may be restless at night and vocalize his boredom.
Pathologic barking - This abnormal barking may be caused by separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders or hyperactivity. This type of behavior is usually accompanied by other extreme actions such as destroying the house or causing self harm.
Other dogs - If your dog constantly barks at every other dog he sees, it may be because of lack of social contact. Sometimes it may be a sign of aggression or protective instinct. Although this can sometimes be a good type of barking, it may set other dogs off and scare people away from your dog.
Barking at the door - This is usually territorial behavior or a result of over-excitement. Dogs will bark if they sense any type of threat. This can actually be the most difficult type of barking to treat, since there is usually always someone around the home (mailman, neighborhood kids and friends coming to visit).
Barking at people - This ties in with barking at other dogs. Your dog may not be social enough, therefore he sees everyone that isn’t familiar as a threat.
How To Stop Dog Barking
After figuring out why your dog may be barking, it’s time to start breaking the habit. There are lots of different training techniques available, you just have to determine which technique will work best for your dog. As soon as you determine what methods your dog understands best, it is important to keep at this method for as long as it takes your dog to fully understand what you are asking him to do.
It is also important to realize that training won’t cure your dog overnight! It takes time and patience to stop your dog’s barking completely. Puppies tend to learn quicker because they soak in information you provide for them. Older dogs with a barking habit may be trained as well, but their habits may be harder to break.
Another method that comes to mind when stopping your dog from barking is the use of spray or shock collars, as well as debarking surgery. These are very controversial methods to stop your dog from barking. Sometimes, however, they may help your dog the most. It is important to fully understand the risks involved when considering an invasive surgery or shocking methods to train your dog.
For more information about dog barking training, information about debarking and more, visit www.dogbarkingresource.com
(this guest post was written by Ciara Black of Dog Help Network)
Some breeds are simply “barking dogs”. These may include German Shepherds, Dobermans or Bloodhounds. There are those small breed dogs who seem to love the sound of their own voices, and will bark for any apparent reason. These include Chihuahuas, Pomeranians and Poodles.
Dogs like to communicate as much as possible, because they feel like the Alpha dog. If barking gets out of hand, it is important to be able to train your dog into realizing that YOU are the Alpha, and not him. Dogs always have a reason for their barking. The first step in training a dog to stop barking is to find out why he is barking in the first place. There are many reasons why your dog may bark. Some barking may actually be good. Training your dog to bark during certain occasions may be beneficial for your household.
Reasons Your Dog May Bark
Barking at night - Your dog may be barking at night simply out of loneliness or boredom. This may happen especially if you keep your dog outdoors at night. Another reason for barking at night is because your dog has excess energy. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise during the day, he may be restless at night and vocalize his boredom.
Pathologic barking - This abnormal barking may be caused by separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders or hyperactivity. This type of behavior is usually accompanied by other extreme actions such as destroying the house or causing self harm.
Other dogs - If your dog constantly barks at every other dog he sees, it may be because of lack of social contact. Sometimes it may be a sign of aggression or protective instinct. Although this can sometimes be a good type of barking, it may set other dogs off and scare people away from your dog.
Barking at the door - This is usually territorial behavior or a result of over-excitement. Dogs will bark if they sense any type of threat. This can actually be the most difficult type of barking to treat, since there is usually always someone around the home (mailman, neighborhood kids and friends coming to visit).
Barking at people - This ties in with barking at other dogs. Your dog may not be social enough, therefore he sees everyone that isn’t familiar as a threat.
How To Stop Dog Barking
After figuring out why your dog may be barking, it’s time to start breaking the habit. There are lots of different training techniques available, you just have to determine which technique will work best for your dog. As soon as you determine what methods your dog understands best, it is important to keep at this method for as long as it takes your dog to fully understand what you are asking him to do.
It is also important to realize that training won’t cure your dog overnight! It takes time and patience to stop your dog’s barking completely. Puppies tend to learn quicker because they soak in information you provide for them. Older dogs with a barking habit may be trained as well, but their habits may be harder to break.
Another method that comes to mind when stopping your dog from barking is the use of spray or shock collars, as well as debarking surgery. These are very controversial methods to stop your dog from barking. Sometimes, however, they may help your dog the most. It is important to fully understand the risks involved when considering an invasive surgery or shocking methods to train your dog.
For more information about dog barking training, information about debarking and more, visit www.dogbarkingresource.com
(this guest post was written by Ciara Black of Dog Help Network)
3 comments:
Lots of good info. I do have a dog that barks and she has done it all her life. She just has to let everyone know that there is something going on whether there is or not. But great post.
Our Abby used to bark at just about everything, from cars far away on the side road to blowing bags in the wind to dogs 2 houses over. We used to say she just loved to bark for the sake of barking. Lucy does enjoy joining in when the neighbor dogs bark but is much less into it than Abby was and Rosie is not a typical chihuahua she rarely barks unless she feels Lucy has a legitimate reason to be barking and then she joins in to defend our yard.
I really like this article. We have a pit bull who likes to bark at dogs that pass by and if she can't be part of a conversation going on outside she barks as well.
And she always barks at the mail delivery person, but they keep changing so most of the time they are strangers coming to our door.
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