Top 4 Best Training Techniques for Dogs That Bark Too Much

Being a dog owner is one of the most exciting and rewarding things that a person can do. Dogs offer infinite love, affection, and companionship, providing your home life with happiness and joy. However, training a dog can be challenging. Whether you are training your dog to go to the bathroom outside, to stop nipping, or in this case, stop barking, training can be difficult and stressful. CDB is ideal for dogs with anxiety issues, as we discovered at Houseofcoco who covered this topic in depth.

If you are training your dog to stop barking, you may be at your wit’s end as barking is not only disruptive and annoying, it’s hard to stop. Whether you are a first-time dog owner, or if you have had dogs your entire life, barking is a difficult thing to stop because every dog is different when it comes to how much they bark. Below are the top 4 techniques that you can try to make your dog’s excessive barking stop.

How to Get Your Dog To Stop Barking

Barking is something that you as a dog owner must get under control, not just for your but also for your neighbors. If you have a dog that barks excessively, you run the risk of disrupting your neighbors; this can especially be an issue if you are older and are thinking about relocating to a senior living community, as the living conditions require residents to be close to each other. An employee from a senior living community in NJ pointed out that it’s’ important that dogs are trained not to bark because neighbors can be disrupted, preventing them from relaxing in the comfort of their own homes.

 

Whether you live in a senior living community, an apartment complex, or a house, it’s crucial that your dog is trained not to bark too much. Here are some training tips to prevent excessive barking.

Ignore Your Dog

This may sound cruel, but it’s extremely necessary in order to calm your dog’s barking. When your dog is barking, simply turn your back and ignore him or her until he or she stops. Or, when you crate your dog, make sure you are not still paying attention to him or her and you either leave the room or go about your business ignoring the dog.

Your dog could be barking to get your attention and by responding, even if you are telling him or her to stop, you are feeding into the barking. To stop this bad habit, when your dog barks, don’t pay any attention to him or her until the barking has completely stopped.

Reward Your Dog When The Barking Stops

This is a simple and easy way to calm your dogs barking; especially if your dog is a puppy or young. When your dog starts barking, ignore him or her, then reward your dog when the barking stops. You can reward your dog with petting, or with a treat. Your dog will learn those good things happen when the barking stops.

 

After your dog learns that good things happen with no barking, he or she will not need to be rewarded every time, instead talk to your dog in a happy tone that also lets your dog know that you are acknowledging the good behavior.

Is There a Cause of the Barking? Get Rid of It

Is there something that is causing your dog to bark? It will be in your best interest to look into the cause of the excessive barking and to try to either get rid of it or alter it. For example, your dog may bark when he sees animals outside; a solution to this is to hang curtains or blinds so that your dog can’t look out the window. Or, perhaps your dog barks when you are eating dinner; a way to stop this is to put your dog in the other room while you are eating or give your dog a toy that is designated for that time of day.

Occupy Your Dog

Your dog may be barking because she is simply bored and wants attention. Try occupying your dog when the barking starts. Some ways to occupy your dog include:

  • Invest in a dog puzzle (a box-shaped toy that has treats hidden throughout)
  • Take your dog on a walk
  • Freeze healthy treats; these will take longer to eat and will keep your dog occupied. Make sure to give it to your dog when he or she pauses with the barking so that it is also treated as a reward
  • Fill an empty water bottle with pieces of dog food and let your dog play with it
  • Invest in high-quality and entertaining toys

Reduce Your Dog’s Barking With Minimal Effort

Reducing your dog’s barking doesn’t have to be involved. If you take the time to look into different ways to stop barking, you will be able to reduce the barking in no time. If your dog is still barking excessively after trying these techniques, consider taking your dog to the vet to make sure nothing is wrong or investing in a dog trainer.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.

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