How do I get my dog to stop barking? Did you know that barking is actually the NUMBER ONE PROBLEM that people have with their dog?
Many owners view barking as nuisance behavior and something that must be stopped at all costs. However, it is important to remember that barking is your dog’s way of release something for you and it is up to you to figure out what he/she is trying to tell you. Barking may seem random and unprovoked to us humans, but it is not. We don’t want ALL dogs to stop barking, especially when barking is an alarm alerting us to danger, but what we DO want is for our dog to stop barking when we ASK.
Some dogs will bark at the slightest noise, disturbance, or movement, and this continuous, repetitive barking is not something you should tolerate. In fact, it can drive you (and your neighbors!) crazy. The behavior may be long established, but it can definitely be improved. Keep reading!
The two most common causes of barking:
Tea reason number one because unwanted barking (especially if the barking is repetitive and seems to be directed at nothing) is due to repressed nervous energy. Your dog will exhibit this type of behavior, when he is not getting enough exercise.
Obviously, all dogs vary and a chihuahua doesn’t need as much exercise as a husky, nor does a 15-year-old need as much as a three-year-old. However, most dogs do best with around 90 minutes a day. You may think your dog is getting all the exercise he needs, but if the barking is combined with other agitated behavior (restlessness, perhaps acting more aggressively than you would expect or want, restlessness, destructive behavior), then he almost definitely needs more.
Fortunately, the solution is quite simple: you just have to exercise it more. Try to get up half an hour earlier in the morning; it will make a big difference. If this really isn’t possible, consider hiring a dog walker to walk your dog in the mornings and/or evenings. And if this is also impossible, then you will just have to resign yourself to having a dog that is constantly agitated and barking. Although I will say, if you can’t commit to walking your dog for at least an hour a day, then the kindest thing you can do would be to give him a new home. I don’t think anyone should take responsibility for having a dog if they can’t commit to that minimum.
Tea second most common cause of barking in dogs is too much ‘alone time’. Dogs are social animals: they need a lot of attention, interaction and communication, without these things they become anxious and nervous. If you’re home with your dog, but you don’t pay attention to him, and he spends a lot of time barking at what seems like nothing, he’s probably bored and lonely and would benefit from a good dose of affection and attention. When you’re home together, you need to make sure you spend a good amount of time with your dog: playing, training, and just hanging out. Your dog is happier as your companion, do not deprive him of this basic happiness.
If your dog’s barking is only a problem when you leave him at home onlythen your dog could very well be suffering from separation anxiety. Check out my article on this topic which will appear in a few weeks.
If you are sure none of the above apply to your dog, there are many different methods and techniques you can try to stop your dog from barking. See below!