How to Stop Your Dog From Constantly Barking

Some dog breeds bark significantly more than others. Yet Shiba Inus and Basenjis do not bark at all. Dogs don’t bark just because they can or to simply annoy you. Learning the various reasons why your dog barks is the first step to controlling their behavior.

How to Stop Your Dog From Barking

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Most dogs have a natural tendency to bark when they sense a possible danger. Training your dog to bark when he/she senses a threat is a good way to protect yourself and your home, but most vocalizations are undesirable and can even cause problems with your neighbors.

When you have figured out the reason for your dog’s barking, fixing the issue will be much easier.

1. Remove any sources that may stimulate barking and try not to accidentally encourage the behavior.

2. Try to make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. A well occupied dog has less time to spend barking unnecessarily.

3. Avoid leaving your dog alone for long periods of time.

4. Don’t comfort a dog that is begging for attention.

5. Don't shout at your dog as it will likely not help and may cause him/her to bark more.

6. Avoid painful punishments like shock collars. Most dogs are intelligent enough to eventually learn to work around them.

To begin training, get your dog’s attention using some sort of signal that he/she can associate with an order. Snapping your fingers or whistling works well. When you have your dog’s attention, practice basic commands that your dog already naturally leans toward like “lie down”, “stay” or “sit”. After he/she has mastered some simple techniques, move on to teaching your dog to be quiet on command. Contact your veterinarian or pet trainer if barking problems persist.