Tricks to Make a Dog Stop Barking

A dog that barks nonstop can be a nuisance. Excessive barking is a common complaint voiced by neighbors and dog owners alike. In fact, according to HIlltop Animal Hospital in Illinois, nearly 35 percent of dog owners think that barking is one of their top complaints about the behavior of their dog. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons--they may be lonely and desire attention, or they may simply hear noises or see people passing by. Occasional barking to communicate is generally not a problem, but when the barking becomes incessant, a dog owner may want to consider some strategies to put an end to this behavior.

  1. Isolate the Dog From Excessive Stimulation

    • When a dog is in a stimulating environment, such as an apartment building or home in a small neighborhood where houses are close together, it may bark frequently at any noise or motion. A trick to dealing with this situation is to isolate the dog so that it cannot see or hear things that may trigger a barking episode. You can crate the dog, or confine him to one room using a baby gate. Turn on a radio to help filter noise. Classical music or public radio stations work best, as they tend to have fewer interruptions with loud, provoking commercials.

    Train the Dog Not to Bark on Command

    • This is a good technique to use with a dog that barks excessively when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. First, you want to train the dog to bark on command. Do this by saying "speak" or "bark" right before you knock on the wall (or other hard surface) or ring the doorbell. When the dog barks, praise him and give him a treat. Repeat this several times a day until the dog associates the command with barking. Once the dog barks on command, follow the initial command and treat with "enough" or "stop barking," and give the dog another treat when he stops barking. Eventually you will be able to use the command "enough" or "stop barking" to quiet the dog.

    Anti-bark Collars

    • Anti-bark collars work by delivering an adverse stimulus when the dog barks. This can be effective to quiet a barking dog. The collar has prongs that sense vibrations when your dog barks and causes the stimulus to be triggered. There are three types of collars available. Electric collars provide a small electrical shock when your dog barks. Citronella collars emit a mist of citronella oil under a dog's nose. Dogs have a natural aversion to the scent of this oil. Sound-emitting collars release a high-pitched tone to deter your dog from barking. Some people argue that these collars are cruel, but bear in mind that your dog is in complete control, as he will only receive an adverse stimulus if he chooses to bark.