Dogs bark. That's a fact. They bark to communicate, much like we use our voices to make a statement, ask questions, announce our presence. And as with people who never stop talking, dogs that don't stop barking can annoy us, too.
Here are some of the ways dogs use their voices to communicate.
- They snarl or growl to ward of people or pets – also considered a sign of aggression
- Low whining generally means he's alert to something going on in his surroundings
- Excited yapping and barking generally indicates that the dog is eager and ready to play
- Yapping and high pitched barking usually mean that the dog wants to be friendly
As you come to understand your dog, you will learn from a combination of the dog's vocalizing and body language exactly what each sound means.
Barking is one of the most aggravating forms of communication, especially if there is no apparent reason for it. Even when there is a reason, it can be difficult to tolerate. Your main concern is to make the dog stop barking, but it's not as easy as you might already have discovered.
The best advice any dog trainer will give you is that you must teach a dog to stop barking right from the start, if possible. Don't let him begin this unwanted behavior because it will be much more difficult to cure it after it gets established. Aim for prevention by starting early.
Your dog needs to be taught to bark at appropriate times, because a dog that doesn't bark won't provide the service you might want, such as alerting you to an intruder or someone at the door.
When you first get your dog, stop him from barking as soon as he starts. Tell him in a strong voice to "Stop" or "No". I find that "Stop" works best. Repeat the instruction if he continues barking. Be persistent. Don't do it one time and not the next. Also, make sure the entire family understands the procedure and that everyone applies the correction.
If your dog still insists on barking, it might be that he just wants to be sure the warning he is sending has been heard and understood. Go to the window or door where he is barking, look out and then tell him, "No more. Good Boy" and pet him reassuringly.
This has always worked for me. Once he has learned this, I teach him that a few barks is all he's allowed.
Generally, I let him bark two or three times and then I tell him to stop. This allows him to do what comes naturally. It lets him get a few barks out of his system so that the dog is ready to stop barking when I order him to.
Remember that a dog will bark:
- to communicate with other dogs walking down the street
- when he senses danger or a trespasser
- when he feels threatened
- to welcome people
- to express his needs.
There are other reasons as well.
When he barks out of fear or because he is anxious, it's a bit more difficult to train the dog to stop barking. Separation anxiety is a very common reasons for a dog to bark.
Again, you will need some persistence and patience to teach your dog to stop barking. One technique that has always worked for me is to go out, close the door and wait. If the dog begins to bark, quickly open the door and step back in. Tell him "Bad Dog. No."
Go back outside and wait again. You might have to do this several times before you really leave. Each time you close the door and he barks, repeat the above.
It's quite likely you won't have time to stick around doing this until he is completely cured, but if you do this several times each time you leave, the dog will stop barking. When he gets closer to obeying, wait a few moments while he remains silent, step back inside, pet him and say, "Good dog".
The idea behind this method is that he will not want you to come back and scold him again because what he really wants is companionship. Also, by re-entering after you've "left", he will think you are always just there and that he is not totally alone.
The worst thing you can do is bribe your dog with treats, petting, or hugging. He must learn to obey because you are the boss, not because he will get that treat. Treats will cause him to lose respect for you which, in turn, can make training more difficult. He will think he is in control and that's the worst thing to happen.
Petting and hugging will simply make him worse and much more difficult to train.
For more tips of dog training, read my review of Sit Stay Fetch. This is a program that has already helped thousands of people train their dogs effectively.
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