How to Silence Nuisance Barking

How to Silence Nuisance Barking

               Why do dogs bark?  Well, to communicate, of course! A dog’s bark is his “voice” so to speak and dogs have different barks that mean different things. Sometimes, we want our dogs to bark—to alert us to a threat, to let us know when they need to go outside, for our amusement when we ask them to “speak.”  But other times we want them to stop barking—when the threat is just a squirrel or the mailman, when they’re incessantly trying to get our attention, when they bark at other dogs or people during a walk.  Can we teach our dogs to bark only when we want and to stop when barking becomes a nuisance? It’s unreasonable to think that we can stop dogs from barking completely (Frankie and Marty always let me know when my Amazon order has arrived!), but there are commands we can teach or other methods of controlling nuisance barking.

               First, shouting, physical punishment and shock collars are NOT the ways to stop your dog from barking.  Controlling barking takes patience, consistency and time. 

               Teach your dog a “quiet” command. When your dog is barking, wait for her to stop, then say “quiet” and offer a treat. She should get the message that she is rewarded for being quiet. It can be a little tricky, but it’s important to make sure the treat is given when she is NOT barking. We don’t want to reinforce the undesirable behavior.  If your dog is really amped up and going crazy barking at something outside, remember to also use a calm, firm voice. Don’t yell and shout as that may only excite her more. Keep small treats or pieces of dog food handy to use during training. Clicker training can also be used hin this situation.  More info here: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/clicker-training-your-dog-mark-and-reward/ and through other online sources.  Teach this command to puppies early on, and you may be able to reduce or prevent nuisance barking.

               It’s hard to ignore an excited barking dog, but, ideally, you should try not to respond to your dog until he is quiet.  For instance, if your dog barks at you because he wants food or a treat, do not give the reward until he stops barking. Reward desirable behaviors as much as possible and try to avoid reinforcing undesirable acts.

               Remote correction methods such as citronella collars that are activated to spray citronella when your dog barks or noise activated anti-bark devices that spray water at the dog when barking may be effective and do not harm the dog like a shock collar would.

               Avoidance methods such as playing a TV or radio when you’re not home to block other sounds that might incite barking or closing blinds so dogs can’t see those rabbits taunting them or the delivery man outside can also be employed.

               Finally, a tired dog is a happy dog—make sure your pup gets enough physical and mental exercise.  If your dog is sleeping, he may not see that mail truck!  If unhappy neighbors inform you that your dog barks when you are not home, try leaving puzzle toys for him or her to play with. You can also desensitize your dog to noises such as doorbells or other sounds by ringing the door bell or knocking on the door, wait until the dog stops barking at the sound, treat and repeat. You can also train your dog to sit or go to a specific spot when someone is at the door. Again, these methods take patience and training, but they can be rewarding.

               If all of these suggestions fail, ask your vet. Some pets may have medical conditions or anxiety that cause excessive barking. Medications, supplements and other training tips may be the answer. Teaching dogs to be quiet and well behaved is not easy but it is possible!

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/understanding-why-dogs-bark#1

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-get-your-dog-stop-barking

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-to-stop-dog-barking/