Ways to Make Your Dog Stop Barking Excessively

Bark means a loud, coarse sound that a dog and other animals create. Several studies about barking say that a dog barks have different kinds based on situation and that every dog can be identified by their barks.

According to the analysis of the researchers when a dog’s instinct feels negative energy the bark can be harsh, low in frequency, and unmodulated. While if a dog is making playful barks it tends to be sharp and moderated.

In relation to these findings, humans should be able to distinguish the barks their dogs give in a specific situation. Humans should have a better understanding when it comes to dog behavior as a whole.

Also when humans are more familiar with a dogs’ behavior then it will help when it comes to diagnosing and treating medical problems that can be identified through their barks.

To be a dog owner involves big responsibilities and one of these is to understand the behavior of your dog and teach him or her things that both of you will need in the long run.

Excessive Barking in Dogs: Why Do They Bark?

First is let us answer the big question of why does a dog bark excessively?

1. Greet or welcome you!

2. Seek for your attention

3. To alert or warn you

4. Because they heard other dogs barking

5. Because they wanted to play

6. Because they feel very excited

7. They are being protective of their territory

8. They are afraid

9. They are in pain

10. They are feeling lonely

11. They saw other dogs or animals

12. They feel that you are about to leave them

With all the mentioned reasons on why dogs bark excessively, how will you be able to deal with it? Do you just have to ignore it or you need to take action in order to stop your dog from barking? Is this normal or is it a disorder?

Excessive Barking in Dogs: Positive and Negative Impact for Pet Owners

Whenever your dog barks excessively there will always be a positive and a negative side. Of course, it will be a positive one if the purpose of barking excessively is to alert or warn you from any possible danger. But whenever the reason is just for territorial, attention, or they just want to argue with other animals then obviously you will be pissed off or irritated.

Excessive Barking In Dogs: How to Deal with it?

What are the things you need to do if your dog is barking unreasonably?

First is to, Divert your dog’s attention.

If you know your dog very well, then you will know how to divert his or her attention. You can give your dog either his favorite food, dog treat, or toy. You can try playing with your dog so you can divert your furry pet’s attention immediately.

Second, Train your dog: use a cue word such as “quiet” which means stop barking!

It is highly recommended that during the 1st year of your dog’s life you already taught him or her the word QUIET! This will be very useful when it comes to the unreasonable barking of your dogs.

When you are about to train your dog to be familiarized with the word quiet, always use a dog treat and praise him as a reward for learning the word quiet. If your dog is knowledgeable about the meaning of the cue word “quiet”, whenever you mention it he or she will stop barking.

The third is to desensitize your dog with what makes him or her bark.

It is very important that you will be able to figure out what makes your dog bark. If you were able to identify it, then do something about it.

One good example of desensitizing is if your dog barks excessively when he or she sees another dog, then start to socialize your dog. It will be difficult at first but you must be patient. Eventually, if your dog gets used to it, then he or she will not bark excessively whenever there’s a presence of a new dog.

Fourth, ignore your dog’s bark.

If your dog is barking excessively in front of you, turn your back and ignore him or her. This may take some time but wait until he or she stops barking. When your dog stopped barking, praise him and if possible give him or her a dog treat. In this way, your dog will realize that you like it whenever he or she is not barking.

Lastly, always keep your dog tired.

This is one of the best ways to deal with excessive barking. Relationship building and preventing your dogs from excessive barking at the same time! Making sure that your furry pet has full of physical activities the whole day will prevent him or her from wasting his or her energy through barking.

Excessive Barking in Dogs: Can You Use Punishment Technique?

If a pet owner is not patient enough then it is very common that they tend to punish their dog whenever they are barking unreasonably. Of course, this is the easiest way to make your dog stop barking excessively.

But what pet owners don’t know is that punishing their dogs from barking excessively does not really help in the long term scenario for it can cause fear, anxiety, and aggression.

Conclusion

Humans have a big role in dealing with excessive barking for they will be the ones who will teach dogs whether when to continue barking excessively or when to stop.

Humans have to teach their dog a cue word which means stop barking, desensitize their dogs with what makes them bark, keep their dogs busy with physical activities, divert their dog’s attention, and ignore their dogs’ bark.

If a dog owner will not be patient enough to accept this role, then definitely negative actions by the owner will be done to his or her dog.

So if you are a dog owner and you are about to lose your patience in addressing excessive barking of your dogs, always put in mind that your dog is a living creature that needs to be nurtured with knowledge and love.