Dogs bark to show excitement, to warn their owners of an intruder or to gain attention, but a dog that barks constantly is an annoyance to everyone. Older dogs may become set in their ways and if they already exhibit excessive barking, their owners may find kenneling them adds to the problem. However, older dogs are trainable and you may reduce or eliminate barking problems by using some retraining techniques and some dog training accessories.
Things You'll Need
- Tarp
- Soda pop can filled with coins
- Citronella collar
- Shock collar
Instructions
Begin with the least aggressive method of training your dog not to bark in its kennel and progress to other methods only if you still experience problems. In addition, be consistent when attempting to retrain your dog not to bark in its kennel. If you correct it only occasionally, it will get the message that it is sometimes OK to bark.
Tarp one or more sides of your dog's kennel if it barks at strangers passing by or at the neighbor's cat. Older dogs that develop barking behavior to alert their owners to the presence of an animal or a person are difficult to retrain, but by securing a large tarp on the kennel, you will block its view and may reduce the barking. Be aware that the use of a tarp on a kennel may create a hazard in areas that experience strong winds. If this is the case, bolt the kennel to a concrete base or to a secure structure.
Distract its barking by creating your own noise. A loud, sudden noise, like that produced by a vigorously shaken soda pop can with a few coins inside, will startle your dog and may temporarily silence it. Schedule a time when you can keep the can nearby before putting your dog into the kennel. The instant it begins to bark, issue the command "Shush" and shake the can for a few seconds. Repeat this procedure each time it barks.
Fit your dog with a citronella collar if tarping the kennel or using a noisemaker is not effective. Older dogs may be difficult to retrain and consistency is imperative for success. A citronella collar fits around your dog's neck and emits a squirt of citronella when your dog barks. Although harmless, most dogs do not like the scent of citronella and will quickly discover that barking is the cause of the smell.
Use a shock collar as a last resort since it imparts a painful electrical impulse to your dog's neck. Like a citronella collar, a shock collar has a sensor that detects the sound of a bark. Unfortunately, other noises may trigger the shock collar and punish your dog when it is not barking. If you use a shock collar, make sure you adjust the sensitivity so it will not shock your dog unless it barks loudly.