Dogs bark for different reasons, but when a kenneled dog barks ceaselessly, anyone within earshot is likely to become annoyed. The longer the dog is allowed to bark, the more difficult it is to retrain him to be silent. Pinpointing the cause of the dog's barking allows the owner to form a strategic training plan that may include verbal warnings, behavior modification and/or the use of a no-bark collar.
Things You'll Need
- No-bark ultrasonic collar (optional) No-bark citronella collar (optional) Tarp
Instructions
Observe the situation in which your dog barks. A dog may bark if it suffers from separation anxiety or if it is hungry. It may also bark if it needs to use the restroom or if it spots an unknown animal or human in the vicinity. Dogs also bark for attention or because they are bored. Recall the events leading up to your dog's barking. In addition, older dogs who develop senility may exhibit unusual barking behavior.
Correct your dog verbally by stepping outdoors where it can see you and firmly issuing the command "No." This occasionally works if the dog is barking out of separation anxiety and it realizes you are still on the premises. However, if the barking continues, you must take additional steps.
Allow your dog out of his kennel frequently so it can use the restroom. Dogs do not like eliminating close by their beds or their food and water bowls. A dog may continue to bark if it has to use the bathroom, and it may become silent only after it can no longer wait and it soils its kennel. This is one of the easiest types of barking to control, because all you need do is take the dog out and walk it until it does its duty before putting the dog back.
Use a no-bark collar with caution. These collars are fitted with sound receivers that detect a bark or a growl, and in response, they emit a high-pitched squeal or a burst of citronella. Although these may be very effective when used correctly, other noises may set them off, punishing your dog for no reason and confusing it. In addition, strong winds may set the collars off.
Fit your dog with a remote-controlled shock collar if milder steps fail to pacify it. Collars that shock are painful, so take care to shock your dog only for unwarranted barking. In addition, shock the dog early in his barking spurt instead of waiting a few minutes, which will only bewilder it. (See Resources.)
Cover your dog's kennel if it barks at strangers, at least on the side facing human or animal traffic. A dog may employ territorial barking if it sees a person or another animal passing by on a nearby sidewalk or playing in the yard next-door. Use a tarp to cover one or more sides of its kennel to block its view.