How To Stop Your Dog Barking

If your dog barks all of the time, it can be a bit frustrating and even embarrassing. Of course, all dogs should bark and it is normal for them to do this when they hear a noise or when visitors arrive. However, if it seems like your dog barks every second of the day, and they do not have any reason for doing so, then you need to take some action. Read on to discover some of the different techniques that you can use to stop your dog from barking so much.

Use noise to quiet the barking

Sometimes, your dog will stop barking if you make a noise. Try snapping your fingers, clapping loudly, or whistling, and see if your dog stops barking.

Tap your dog’s nose

Did you know that the nose is the most sensitive part of any dog? Therefore, you should be able to stop your dog from barking if you tap it once lightly. If you do this every time your dog redundantly barks, he will learn to stop doing it.

Make sure your dog gets enough exercise

One reason why a lot of dogs bark is because they do not get enough mental and physical exercise throughout the day. A tired dog is a good and well-behaved dog and is also a dog that is less likely to bark simply because they are frustrated or bored. Depending on your dog’s health, age, and breed, they may require a good game of chasing the ball or several long walks per day. Do your research to find out what sort of exercise is right for your dog so you can discover if the reason that they are barking is purely that they are not being stimulated enough on a daily basis.

Invest in a bark collar

Another option for owners that are looking to stop their dogs relentless barking is to purchase a bark collar. Dog bark collars can help with insistent barking, as they work just like dog training collars do by instilling positive behavior. There are many different types of dog bark collars to choose from and you can find out more about them here. It is important to do your research beforehand and to make sure that the collar is comfortable for your dog.

Stop situations from arising that lead to barking

It is also a good idea to look at your dog’s behavior and notice whether there are certain situations that cause your dog to bark way more than others. For example, your dog may bark whenever it is left on its own. This indicates that he is barking because of a lack of companionship and that he needs more attention. If you are unable to give him this, perhaps you should think about hiring a dog walker, asking members of the family to chip in or enroll your dog at a care center for a few days each week. You should also give your dog plenty of chew toys so that you can keep him busy when he is on his own.

Ignore it

Needless to say, this is not a technique that will work for every dog, but it is definitely worth a try. Often, dogs bark simply because they want attention, if you do not give them this attention and you ignore their barking, they may eventually stop doing it.

Teach bark control when your dog is a puppy

As is the case with most things when it comes to dogs, you will find it a lot easier to get the results you hope for if you start teaching them when they are young. It is a lot easier to train your dog to stop barking when he is a puppy. If your dog has reached the adult stage, all hope is not lost, but you will have a more difficult challenge on your hands. You need to make sure your dog learns that barking without a reason or redundantly is a bad thing.

Remove the motivation

A final suggestion when attempting to get your dog to stop barking is to find out what sort of motivation your dog has for barking. Your dog gets some kind of reward from barking, otherwise, he wouldn’t do it. This could be attention or it could be burning energy, but no matter what it is, once you take the reward away, you will stop your dog from needing to bark in the first place.

As you can see, there are many ways that you can get your dog to stop barking. Hopefully, some of the suggestions that were provided above can help you. From making sure your dog gets enough exercise to tapping your dog’s nose, not all of the ideas mentioned will be suitable for your dog because it does depend on the reason why your dog is barking in the first place. Once you get to the bottom of this, you will be able to decipher the best tactics moving forward.