How to Quiet Your Barking Dog

Nothing is worse than having a dog barking in the wee hours of the morning ... until you discover that the barking dog is yours. Local councils will report that almost 50% of grievances relate to the noise of barking dogs. The key to producing appropriate barking levels is through the use of reward and discipline.

Things You'll Need

  • A barking dog
  • A spray bottle of water
  • A small dog treat
  • Time and patience
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify what causes the dog to bark. Dogs usually bark as a reaction to their environment. They pick up visual cues, are bored or frightened. Once you know what may be causing the barking, you can react to the noise.

    • 2

      Remember that barking when people arrive at the door can be rewarded. When a friend or neighbor comes to the door, encourage the dog to bark. When the barking announcement is sufficient give the dog a voice command to cease. After he has responded reward the dog with a treat. Each time their is an arrival lengthen the time before giving the treat.

    • 3

      Know that the majority of times barking is seen as a nuisance or undesirable behavior. It then becomes a matter of disciplining the dog to bark. The use of a spray bottle of water will serve as a negative reinforcement for the unwanted behavior. Always give a command to cease barking before spraying the dog.

    • 4

      Remember that the use of both positive and negative reinforcement over a sustained period of time will bring about a change in the dogs behavior.
      The goal is to adjust the behavior of the dog for when you are not at home to an appropriate level.