Tips On How to Stop Dog Barking
Understanding when and why your dog barks can help you in dealing with how to stop dog barking.
Barking is just one of the ways dogs communicate so the first question I have when people ask me how to stop dog barking is, "Why is the dog barking?"
Ask Us About How to Stop Dog Barking
Sometimes You Want Your Dog to Bark
Imagine disciplining your dog every time it barks in order to control his dog barking behavior and then coming face to face with a burglar who has entered your home or your property so easily?
What if a bear wanders onto your property and you walk right out in front of it…because your dog has been disciplined not to bark?
There are times when your dog should bark and times where you will want to know how to stop dog barking.
What we need to determine is the difference between your dog’s normal barking behavior and excessive or unnecessary barking; for instance, how to stop dog barking for attention, barking at everything that moves or barking when you prepare the dog’s meal, etc.
Other Causes of Dog Barking
Some dogs are very reactive (this can be genetic) always reacting to the mailman, the kids in the neighborhood and so on. Most dogs remain like this because they are not trained!
When we let our dogs out in a big fenced-in back yard and allow them to "patrol" all day long, the dogs will soon start making their own decisions about protecting our property (their territory). A fenced-in yard can be a real problem for dog barking behavior if you never spend time with your dog.
When small dogs are spoiled by constantly being picked up, this can cause small dogs to bark. Why? Because they know that barking will get them what they want…picked up.
Once a dog learns that barking will get them what they want, they will continue to bark. It’s what they have learned to do. Dog barking can be very annoying and the dog will use that to its own advantage.
How to Stop Dog Barking 101
First and foremost, how to stop dog barking most effectively is through dog obedience training. You must have control and respect from your dog; otherwise you cannot effectively manage your dog barking behavior issues.
Listen to your dog. Try and understand the reason for your dog barking and manage that. Remember dogs are pack animals and consider you the leader of the pack, so they will listen to you if trained to do so properly.
Here’s an example: Your dog starts excessively barking out the window. Instead of yelling "SHUT UP" you go to where the barking is directed, recognize why your dog is barking and praise him for alerting the "pack" that there is an intruder and then put the dog in a command like sit and bring him away from the situation.
Your dog will soon understand that once you have addressed the "threat", his job is now done and you, as the pack leader, have taken over.
How to stop dog barking is not an issue of dog behavior modification; this is a dog obedience training issue and pack issue. Remember, we teach dogs HOW to behave in a situation, not HOW NOT to behave so let’s be proactive, not reactive.
About Frank D’Andrea
Frank D’Andrea is a professional dog trainer and offers dog training programs to dog owners throughout New Jersey and New York including Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Hudson and Essex.
If you would like more information about Franks’s dog training programs or about how to stop dog barking please Contact Us, send an Email or call DP Dog Training at
845-368-0868.