Dog Bark

Some dogs are quiet by nature and scarcely make a sound, others bark at anything and everything and do so very, very loudly. Wherever in between these extremes your dog falls, there are ways to combat unnecessary barking and to preserve your good standing in the neighborhood as well as your sanity.

Preferably unnecessary barking behaviors are addressed during the puppy stages and do not carry through into the adult years. If not, however, there is hope. There are effective and easy ways to curb your dogs barking no matter what age they may be. First and foremost, you must first be able to distinguish the different barks used by your dog and what message he is hoping to send. This will be very easy after learning your dog's personality and the response he gives to your reaction of the barking. Many dogs have a very distinct bathroom bark and may even have particular body language they use, such as walking to the door. This is an admirable trait and a sign of effective housebreaking, but you must make clear the appropriate ways for your dog to communicate his needs. The best response to this type of bark is to immediately ask, "Do you want to go out?" and then follow through quickly. This should reinforce with your dog that only getting your attention is necessary, not constant barking.

Another type of dog bark which may not always be bad is the one your dog uses to alert you of an approaching stranger or a knock on the door. This behavior is instinctual to many dogs and is their way of asserting their protection over their loved ones. However, barking at every passing car or bird is not acceptable and should be curtailed as quickly as possible using an anti bark collar or a quick spray of clean water in the face from a misting bottle.

No matter the reason for the barking, never raise your voice in an attempt to quiet a dog. Dogs follow by example and if you start yelling too, then it's on as far as your dog is concerned.