How to train your dog to stop barking
January 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under Dog Training, Featured
Dogs will bark instinctively, often as the result of a visual stimulus like a bird or bus nearby, or noise such as a phone or motorike passing by. They may do it as a means of protecting their patch, or to display their boredom or anxiety. They will bark as a means of displaying their dominance, or maybe just as a way of getting your attention.
It may even bark just for the sheer fun of it!
If you’d like to read more about how to train your dog to stop barking, check out Learning how to stop dogs barking
To try and prevent your dog barking entirely would be unreasonable and a little unfair – a bit like telling a child that he’s not allowed to laugh or shout ! A much more advisable tactic is to gain total command of your dog, who will then be more likely to remain obedient to your commands to stop barking.
You could set up a false situation in which you would actually want your dog to start barking – during an attempted burglary for example. Ask somebody to come over to your house to help, and ensure that there will not be any interruptions or distractions. Make sure that your dog is in a calm frame of mind, then tell your friend to try to come onto the property in a way that an invited guest would never try, like through an open window. Now get your dog to bark at your helper, saying a phrase such as ‘bark’ or ‘who’s that’. What you do now is you tell your dog in a relaxed assertive voice to stop barking, using the command ‘be quiet’ or ‘shush’. When the barking has stopped, allow him to take the treat, praising him enthusiastically for his good behaviour.
To check out loads more useful information and advice on ways of stopping dogs barking excessively, have a look at Stop excessive dog barking
Continue to repeat these steps, ensuring that your dog stays quiet and focussed on you for longer each time before he gets his reward. The aim is eventually to be able to stop your dogs barking on your command, and keep him calm and attentive for an extended period of time. Your dog will understand that he reacted in an acceptable way if you remain happy and calm as you praise him.
Going through these stages in an controlled environment will mean that your dog is much more likely to default to this new behaviour when something unexpectedly causes him to bark at a later stage.
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I hope that you have found reading this page beneficial – why not take at look at some more advice on how to stop a dog from barking, by checking out Ways of stopping barking dogs
