How to Stop Your Dog's Barking Behavior

All dogs bark. This is their natural way to communicate and show their emotions to other dogs and humans. Barking can be useful, such as alerting a family that a stranger is approaching or to alert the family that the dog is injured and requires assistance. Unfortunately, there are dogs that will bark excessively at very inappropriate times. It is this unwanted barking that can be controlled to avoid any unwanted attention from neighbors and other dogs.

Things You'll Need

  • Television
  • Radio
  • Spray bottle
  • Water
  • Dog toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Avoid yelling the word "No" at the dog every time it barks. The dog will simply think that you are barking along with it, and continue.

    • 2

      Utilize the "stop" command. Each time your dog begins to bark, look it in the eye and utter the word "stop" in a stern voice. Once the dog stops, give it a treat. Eventually the dog will begin to associate the "stop" command with receiving a treat and will follow the command.

    • 3

      Leave a television or radio on when you leave the home if the dog is barking from loneliness. You may also want to consider getting another pet, such as a dog or a cat, to keep the dog company.

    • 4

      Exercise the dog during the day. Take the dog for a long walk, play fetch in the park or allow the dog to take a long swim in a nearby lake or pond. A quiet dog will have less energy to bark.

    • 5

      Keep the window shades pulled or move furniture away from windows if the dog is barking at passing humans and animals. The dog cannot bark at what it does not see.

    • 6

      Avoid bringing the dog into the house if it is barking outside and wants to return to the house. This will reward the dog's barking if it gets its way and is allowed back into your home. Wait until the dog has ceased barking before allowing it around the family.

    • 7

      Fill a spray bottle with water and squirt it near the dog's face if it begins to bark. The dog will begin to associate this negative consequence with barking. Never spray the water directly into the dog's face because this could cause a negative reaction, such as biting or nipping.

    • 8

      Offer the dog a new toy or place the dog's toys on a cycle, so it thinks the toy is new. This will give the dog a distraction from barking.