Ways to Stop Dogs From Barking

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including communication, boredom, fear and anxiety. Whatever the reason, incessant barking can be annoying to anyone close enough to hear it. Your dog's refusal to stop barking can be especially upsetting if your neighbors call animal control, but a few simple methods might help you put an end to the annoyance barking before the situation gets out of control.

  1. Collars

    • A simple solution to quiet a barking dog is the use of a bark collar. Every time your dog barks, this battery-powered collar gives him a small electric shock. Most bark collars allow you to adjust the intensity, so you can deliver the smallest shock necessary for effective behavior control.

      A citronella collar sprays citronella under your dog's nose every time he barks. Since dogs generally don't like the smell of citronella, this helps associate the barking with a negative effect that should help reduce the problem behavior.

      Sound-emitting collars make a high-pitched sound, which dogs also don't like, every time they bark. In the opinion of the Barking Dogs website, this is the least effective of all the bark collars.

    Training

    • Training is the best method for getting your dog to stop barking permanently, but it does take time and consistent follow-through. Every time your dog barks, you must say "No" and, with two fingers, thump him on the nose. Do not thump him enough to hurt him; it is only meant to be an unpleasant consequence to barking. The key to this method is that you have to do it every time he barks in order to have the best chance of success.

    Muzzles

    • A muzzle fits over your dog's mouth and nose to keep him from opening his mouth far enough to bark. While effective, it's important to recognize that muzzles are illegal in some places and also prevent your dog from being able to eat and defend himself, though he can drink with a properly fitted muzzle. Muzzles come in a variety of materials, including leather, wire and fabric; some contain all three materials. Never leave a muzzled, and therefore vulnerable, dog unattended.

    Surgery and Medication

    • Turning to surgery to keep a dog quiet should always be a last resort. A vocal cordectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a dog's vocal cords. This procedure will not make your dog totally quiet, but will reduce his bark to a hoarse sound.

      If your dog is barking due to separation anxiety or fear, medication may be helpful. These types of dog medications are similar to anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications given to people.