Woof, woof! One of the biggest and most demanding challenges in training a dog is teaching him how to stop with the unnecessary barking. Dogs get easily provoked and react nervously even to the slightest situation. They bark at everything that can be construed as dangerous or threatening for them, their owner, the house and especially, to what’s in their possession (including toys, food and territory). However, these things are not always the reason for barking. Some dogs bark because it is part of their character, others do it because they feel bored, they have heard another dog barking, they are hungry and they try to steal your attention. A dog can also do this, because he is feeling scared (sounds, people, other animals, weather). There are situations when it is really important to pay attention and try to discover why your dog is barking excessively. If this “ritual” is followed with crying and howling, it can be a sign that your dog is ill, he is in pain or he might have cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). In case like this, it is recommended to visit a vet.
Outside the situation that is indicating particular disease, dog barking can be stopped, or at least reduced. What you have to do is to find out what is the reason for your dog’s barking, and after that, you can begin the trainings.
First rule: do not yell at your dog – he may understand wrong, for example, that you’re barking along with him. Do not give him attention when he is barking; instead, ignore him even if you’re frustrated of his performance. Third, find a stimulus that will make your dog bark; whenever the “subject” comes near, give your dog treats and vice versa. He will learn that being near the stimulus without barking leads him to a reward. Another option is to play with your dog, get him outside regularly and let him be active. A tired dog will bark less.
Hope these tips will help you!
