What Can I Do if My Dog Barks at Every Little Thing?

Barking is a normal, if annoying, part of most dogs' communication patterns. Dogs communicate using their tails, body posture and voice. They bark to alert owners to changed situations, such as the arrival of a guest or the need for food. Dogs who bark at every little thing are communicating either alarm, excitement or frustration. Many puppies naturally outgrow barking tendencies as they age, but excessive dog barking often requires behavior modification training.

  1. Causes of Barking

    • Some breeds of dog are more prone to barking than others. Terriers, for example, bark more than Greyhounds. Barking is triggered by a state of excitement. Some dogs bark excessively because of improper confinement, environmental sounds, separation anxiety, a lack of exercise. A dog's individual temperament may also be to blame. The sound of a continually barking dog is a disruptive and stress inducing noise for humans, and should be corrected.

    Dealing With Causes

    • The easiest way to deal with a dog that barks because of a suspected cause is to address and remedy the problematic situation. Improper confinement is among the most common reasons for excessive barking, and includes restricted tethering, such as being tied up on a short line; a yard with no shelter from the weather; leaving a dog alone in a locked room; or excessive time passed in a dog crate. Learning how to contain your dog properly may go a long way towards curbing constant barking. Increasing the dog's exercise may also help relieve some of the excitement currently being vented through barking.

    Behavior Modification Training

    • There are a variety of methods of training that include direct and indirect barking interventions. One direct intervention is to teach the dog a cue word that will signal it to stop barking. Popular examples are "no" and "quiet." The word is spoken in a quiet and calm voice, as yelling tends to encourage a dog to bark more. Reinforcement of the cue word is essential, either with a leash correction or a gentle hand closing the dog's muzzle and repeating the cue word. Giving the dog something else to do, such as sit, often helps. The best way to reinforce the cue is to reward your dog each time you issue the cue and he stops barking. Rewards, repetition and consistency of training are essential.

    Indirect Interventions

    • Sometimes a dog barks in a location where the owner cannot apply a direct correction, such as behind a fence or in an adjacent room. For these occasions, the owner can adopt indirect techniques such as using high frequency sound devices or even shaking a can filled with coins. Unusual noises often distract dogs long enough for the owner to reinforce the cue word with a treat. More drastic tools exist in the form of bark activated shock collars or a surgical procedure removing all or part of the dog's vocal cords, but these are generally recommended only as a last resort.