Perhaps you find yourself becoming more and more frustrated by your dog's continuous barking? Are you swallowing aspirin at an alarming rate to remedy your splitting headaches? If so, then you could be the proud owner of a "problem barker.
" If you believe you have a "problem barker" lurking in your midst, then throw out the aspirin and read on for some great advice on dog barking training and discover what causes your dog to bark and how you can quickly solve this dilemma.
Dog Barking Training Tip #1-Discovering What Kind of Barker You Have Firstly, one must appreciate that barking, for dogs, is the same as speaking, for you and I.
If one of your friends was loud and rowdy, realistically you probably wouldn't expect them to suddenly stop talking completely, but you might you might try and persuade them to lower their voice or tone things down.
If you bear this in mind it should help you from setting unrealistically high expectations, a trap that many of us fall into, when it comes to their dog and dog barking training.
Typically, the first thing you need to establish if you are considering dog barking training is whether your dog is in fact a "problem barker".
The occasional bark or two when a friend knocks on the door or a couple of 'yaps' rattled off at a cat perched on a wall are both entirely normal.
In these instances the barking is just your dog's way of saying "beware, you're entering my territory" or "Hello..
..
how are you?" When trying to determine whether you have a "problem barker" in your midst, or not, keep in mind that it is a term normally given to dogs that engage in almost continuous barking for substantial periods of time.
If you feel this tag fits your dog, then you've come to the right place for some great dog barking training tips! Dog Barking Training Tip #2 - The Real Source of the Problem Now that we've established that you may in fact be the proud owner of a problem barker, lets look at why your dog is carrying on in this way.
Usually, there are 2 main reasons most dogs bark excessively:Boredom and Loneliness .
If your dog spends a lot of its time alone in the yard then 99% of the time such a lonely existence is the cause of the excessive barking.
Dogs are not BBQ grills or garden ornaments.
If it were you confined to a small area, 24/7, then chances are you'd most likely be yelling for somebody as well! At the root of this is Mother Nature herself.
Dog are usually raised as part of a litter and have traditionally been part of a pack.
When we relegate our dog to its solitary existence in the backyard we are in affect casting it from its pack.
Consequently, we should not be surprised if there is a problem requiring dog barking training.
Attempting to train your dog not to bark, if they are doing so due to loneliness, is a fruitless exercise as it fails to address the root cause of the problem.
Dogs will often make a noise just so they can hear the sound of their own voices, and often just bark in the hope of attracting the attention of neighbouring dogs who might respond to them.
Take my advice: if your dog has been relegated to the yard and is barking excessively, give him a thorough wash and bring him inside.
You'll be pleasantly surprised at the transformation most dogs exhibit when they are moved from the solitary isolation of the backyard and welcomed back into the pack! Conversely, if your dog only spends a small amount of time in the backyard but continues to bark relentlessly, or is a problem barker while inside, when you're at home or away, then I suggest you read our third tip! Dog Barking Training Tip #3 Curing the Root Cause of Most Barking Apart from loneliness, the huge bulk of dog barking training issues are due to separation anxiety.
The simple fact is, most dogs cease their relentless barking when they are in the company of their owners.
Of course, it's unrealistic to expect you to remain with your dog throughout the entire day, so how should you deal with a dog that barks continually whenever you leave the house? Fortunately there are a number of reputable dog training programs on the market that will remedy excessive barking.
Although each dog is different the programs that seem to have the most success are those that address a dog's separation anxiety, and not just the barking.
If your dog starts a chorus of barking whenever you leave the home, begin your training session by doing all of the things you would normally do before leaving the house: find the keys, fetch your jacket, grab your briefcase, and so forth.
Then reassure your dog, saying "I won't be long.
", "I'll be home soon.
" Then, leave as you would normally do, but just for a minute, and then return and put away all of your things, just like you had arrived home from work.
Stroke your dog and reassure him in a friendly voice.
Next, re-gather your items once again and repeat the process but this time leave the house for slightly longer (perhaps 4 minutes).
Continue doing this, gathering your things and leaving the house, then returning and offering a kind word to your dog until you can confidently leave for a good 15 or 20 minutes without any chorus of barking.
Working with your dog in this way will address the separation anxiety that causes a lot of the barking as it helps reassure him that whenever you leave the house you will soon be returning.
Can it truly be this easy?? Just because a dog barks excessively they are by no means a hopeless case.
I would, however, caution against using quick-fixes such as shock collars or sprays as they fail to address the true underlying cause of your dogs barking.
One final note; I know it can be tempting to yell at your dog but all you're going to do is instil fear and confusion.
Fortunately, there is a better way To cure your problem barking requires a small amount of patience, a willingness to invite your dog back into the family pack and the proper dog barking training.
Just think of your dog as that rowdy friend that you have asked to 'keep it down' and you will be well on your way to dog barking training success!