How to Stop Nuisance Barking

Dogs communicate by barking, however the behavior can be annoying and can sometimes lead to fines for nuisance violations. Reducing unwanted barking is possible, although it may take some patience. First you need to determine why your dog is barking. Dogs that are left alone are bored and will bark because you left them or to entertain themselves. Dogs that have not expended energy may bark. Your dog may also be unintentionally trained to bark. When you hear a bark, the dog gets your attention. You either feed it, let it outside, pet it or give it some type of attention.

Things You'll Need

  • Citronella collar (optional)
  • Chew toys (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attend obedience training with your dog or teach it yourself. The obedience training can help with training your dog not to bark, although not always directly. Positive reinforcement techniques help, such as waiting until your dog is quiet and then giving a treat as you give praise for being quiet. Obedience training has another positive aspect. Learning commands such as sit, lie down, shake hands occupies the animal in mental and physical exercise. The dog will be quieter after a training session.

    • 2

      Take walks. Dogs that live outside miss companionship and are often lonely. Your dog is also likely bored. Nothing is going on in the backyard to capture the dog's attention. Daily walks for both inside and outside dogs let the dog explore new territory, alleviates boredom and provides exercise and companionship. When you are at home, consider allowing the dog into the house for a period of time. The dog is a part of the family and needs "family time."

    • 3

      Go to the dog park regularly. Allowing the dog to play with others is a great form of exercise and activity. When you bring your dog home, it will be more relaxed and happy.

    • 4

      Use a citronella collar if other training is not working. A citronella collar is worn by the dog and will give off a small burst of citronella when the dog begins to bark. Dogs don't like the smell and it will distract the dog from barking. Using the collar should be combined with other forms of training as the dog may became desensitized to the spray.

    • 5

      Provide chew toys with treats inside. You insert a tasty treat inside a chew toy and the dog must work to retrieve the treat. Look for interactive toys at your local pet supply store.