One of the most frequent reasons dogs are brought to an animal shelter is because of their barking. Owners and/or neighbors cannot tolerate the noise generated by barking.

When considering a dog, it’s very important to check the characteristics of the breed you’re considering, as some breeds are natural “barkers.” If possible, see the parents, ask the breeder questions, and talk to people who have the same breed and get their input. Even if you’re considering a mixed-breed dog, look for breeds that comprise the dog’s makeup.

Excessive barking can spell the end of a relationship with a pet before it has had a chance to begin.

why do the dogs bark?

Well, it’s actually fun. It is also a form of communication. A dog’s barking can be a warning, it can be a welcome sound, or it can be a constantly annoying noise.

In case you didn’t know, dogs have many varieties of “bark,” from a soft “woof” to a very loud type of bark. Every bark means something to the dog. A bark can signify territorial protection, a demonstration of dominance, or the expression of a specific need. If you can develop a good “barking ear” you will be able to understand the differences.

Why do some dogs bark so much?

Believe it or not, some of this can be attributed to our own behavior towards our dogs or it can be a natural genetic trait. In many ways we condition them to bark.

Think about it, “a barking dog gets attention” and that’s what most dogs want. The fact that we may be scolding the dog doesn’t matter, as long as the dog gets what he wants.

Sometimes dogs bark because they feel uncomfortable. Your dog may be hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, or needing to relieve himself. If he doesn’t bark, how will you know?

Make sure your dog has shelter from the heat and/or rain if outside, along with plenty of water.

Don’t leash a dog and expect it to be calm all day. A dog on a leash can become obsessed with so many things and possibly get hurt, plus being in one place all day is “BORING”. A dog needs physical exercise and stimulation.

An outdoor dog has many things to make it bark, other barking dogs, noise from trucks and cars, people walking, boredom and loneliness.

To ease the stress and anxiety your dog is feeling, if you are not available to do it every day, hire a neighborhood teenager to walk your dog every day and possibly play with him for a while. Exercise is a great stress reliever and a tired dog will bark less.

Some dogs feel very needy and will bark constantly to get your attention.

To remedy a needy barking dog WILL NEED A LOT OF PATIENCE on your part.

Why?

Simply because you are going to have to IGNORE the barking and the dog. Easy to say, but very difficult to do.

A dog in need is looking for any kind of attention and therefore you should NOT talk to, look at or approach him while he is barking.

Yelling loudly or yelling at the dog to “shut up” won’t help at all. The yelling is once again getting the dog the attention it wants, plus it will think you are playing with it.

Hitting, spanking or beating the dog will also not have a good result. You will create fear in the dog and when he sees you he will stop, but turn away and he will attack again.

Once the dog stops barking, praise, pets, and treats are in order.

This won’t be a quick fix, but for it to work you have to be consistent and ignore the dog, even though you might be tempted to tape its mouth shut.

You can also retrain the behavior pattern by having the dog do something different when it starts barking, such as fetching a toy and receiving a treat when found. Giving the dog a “job” that takes his mind off barking is the thinking behind this idea.

Once the training process begins, it is very important that you do not deviate from it for any reason until the dog has the thought of “no barking” firmly implanted in his head.

Okay, there are times when you want the dog to bark, so pick the barking behavior that bothers you the most and work solely on that.

If you live in an apartment and your dog barks while you’re away, there are a number of reasons for that and each is handled differently.

Separation anxiety will cause a dog to bark constantly. Many times you, the owner, are the cause of it. If you find yourself worried about leaving the dog behind while you get ready and find yourself going through all that wonderful “baby dog ​​talk” we’ve been known to go through. TO!

What you are doing is creating nervous anxiety and upsetting your dog.

Instead, don’t look at, talk to, or pet your dog as he prepares to leave. Ignore your pet completely, don’t even think about him/her during the grooming process. Focus on work or whatever you’re going to do.

Just before you’re ready to walk out the door, grab your pet’s favorite toy and various treats, place them in a room away from the door, and without a BYE, walk away. Nine chances out of ten, your dog will accept the fact that you’re gone and keep quiet.

Whether you believe it or not, pets sense our anxiety and respond to it.

If outside noises are the trigger for your pet’s barking, try to keep him in a room that is not near the street. Put on a radio with soft classical music or keep the TV on low while you’re gone, keep the blinds closed, do something to keep the dog away from the windows. Use empty boxes on the chair or sofa to prevent your pet from climbing on the furniture and looking out the window.

Now if you have a dog that for the most part is kept outside and its barking bothers your neighbors. That’s a bit trickier, since you’re not at home to take control of the situation. I’m not a firm believer in using “mechanical” things to keep a dog from misbehaving, however I know that sometimes, it’s the only way to control an annoying habit, when you’re not there to take control.

There are “ultrasonic outdoor electronic systems” that are powered by an adapter or by batteries, emit a high-pitched sound that can only be heard by the dog, and stop when the dog stops barking. They are available for large patios and small patios. I have been told that they are quite reliable in stopping unnecessary barking.

For the interior of the house or apartment there is another gadget similar to the one in the patio, which even allows you to use your voice commands to talk to the dog.

I would advise researching these items, only if all else fails and you are at your wit’s end.

Resolving the barking problem will take time and effort, as well as patience and understanding. Try to determine “why” your dog is barking, if he can solve that problem, he is well on his way to a solution.

Exercise and socialization are such an important part of a dog’s life. A dog is not supposed to sit and be quiet. Dogs were created to be hunters and protectors, we are the ones who tame them.

Dogs lived in the wild in packs, having lots of fun with each other, obeying pack rules and following a leader. We are the ones to change that and as a result we have to do our part.

Now we are the leaders, we are the “alpha dog”, and that doesn’t mean beating the dog into submission, it means providing exercise, social stimulation, proper nutrition, medical care and most of all, love.