Barking is a dog's natural behavior. Only one dog breed, the Basenji of South Africa, don't bark. Barking is one of the dog's ways of conveying what it wants. Barking on the normal within the scale is not a problem at all, but when it becomes extreme, it becomes a nuisance that you need to find a way to stop or minimize it. There a lot of ways to stop dogs from barking excessively.
In order to be able to stop dogs from barking, the first thing to do is to know why they do, and to identify the forms of barking that can be minimized or stopped.
The Causes of Dog Barking
Dogs bark for a number of reasons. Some are triggered by anger, fear or excitement. Experts have classified common dog barking as:
* Territorial Barking
* Alarm Barking
* Attention Seeking Barking
* Greeting Barking
* Frustration Barking
* Compulsive Barking
* Injury or Illness Related Barking
Barking is the dog's business. No one can actually stop dogs from barking completely as barking is an instinct.
How to Stop Dogs from Barking
Excessive dog barking can be stopped. The way to do it is to determine what triggered it in the first place. According to dog experts 90% of excessive dog barking is actually controllable. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself so that you can identify the cause[s] of your dog's excessive barking behavior:
* At what times does your dog usually bark?
* Can you identify any particular object that the dog is barking at?
* Is the dog's barking triggered by any specific occurrence?
If your dog barks because its territory is threatened, there is very little you can do to stop it. Yelling and other negative reinforcement can result in aggression, it an even lead to biting issues. The dog is a territorial animal and it does what it knows to protect its territory, so even if you stop the barking but the cause is still unresolved, the problem prevails.
In order to prevent your dog from becoming territorial is for you take control of the household and stop it from claiming the place as its own territory. Impose your alpha leadership and your dog will give up its territorial claim on your household. You can also minimize your dog's barking by reducing its capacity to see incoming threats. Drawing the blinds, erecting opaque fences and preventing it from looking through windows are among the most effective ways of preventing the dog from territory related barking.
Stop Dogs with Anxiety from Barking
If your dog has anxiety issues, its barking is just an indication of a much deeper problem. It often barks uncontrollably every time you leave the house. By giving your dog lavish attention as your dog gets excited upon your return, you are actually reinforcing its negative behavior. Ignoring your dog for at least 10 minutes each time you arrive will help to reduce your dog's anxiety issues.
Dogs should be taught how to speak and be quiet in order to keep it from barking. They should be taught to perform commands instead of barking. It is an effective way to control its barking behavior.
Do not let your dog's barking be the cause of your neighbors' sufferings. You have to know what caused it and be able to control it as early as possible. This will prevent your neighbors from getting annoyed each time you come home. They might wish you would never return each time you leave.
Stan Beck's Dog Training Website has been a useful tool to many dog owners in improving their dogs' behavior. Visit his web site and find out how it can help to control your Dog's Barking Behavior.
