How to Stop a Dog From Barking at Other Dogs & People While on His Leash

It's widely known that the earlier you can start training a dog, the better your chances are of owning a well-behaved pet. A dog may bark excessively at any stage in its life for a number of reasons, whether it is anxious, scared, feeling pain, or just overly excited. The dog does not realize that there is anything wrong with barking, but the owner will often find that this behavior can be an annoyance and sometimes problematic. In most cases, a dog's excessive barking can be successfully changed. You do need time and a lot of patience, but the results can be very rewarding.

Instructions

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      Consider all the possibilities. Observe whether the dog consistently barks when facing oncoming dogs or people, or whether it only occurs sometimes. Ask the veterinarian to check the dog's health, particularly if this is a new problem. Barking may be associated with pain, according to Dog Obedience Advice. Barking may also be associated with anxiety or even excitement. Consider taking your dog to dog obedience classes to familiarize it with other dogs. If there are signs that your dog may be aggressive or dangerous, seek urgent professional help before an incident happens.

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      Obedience classes are a good way to gain control of your dog's barking.

      Train your dog to focus on your commands while in a quiet place, away from other people or pets. Make eye contact with your dog each time you use a particular word; for example, the word "look." Every time the dog responds correctly by making eye contact with you, reward it with a treat. Continue the behavior training to include "heel" and "sit". Repeat this training frequently. Do not become angry when the dog does not respond the way you want it to, but rather, continue your training session a little later. Use command words to divert the dog's attention when it starts barking at other people or pets.

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      Ask a dog-owning friend to help you. Your friend and her dog should slowly approach you and your dog, face on. Each dog should be on a leash. Respond in a positive, excited manner when they approach. Keep a distance between the dogs initially, but gradually bring the dogs closer together. As your dog's behavior improves, introduce it to social places likely to be frequented by unfamiliar dogs, such as a dog park or a pet store that welcomes pets.