How To Stop Your Dog From Barking
Dogs bark for numerous reasons, and sometimes even the breed of dog is a clue to how much barking is going to go on. Below, you will find some methods to help stop dog barking. It may take a few tries however, before you find which method works for you.
Collars
One way to attempt to keep your dog from barking is the use of collars. There is a rather large variety of anti-barking collars on the market today. Some provide a tiny jolt of electricity, while others give off a citrus smell activated by barking. This seems to work well as dogs obviously have very sensitive noses, and citrus is not their favorite scent! Other collars give off a disturbing beeping sound for the dog. You might have to try a couple of different types, but it will be well worth it when you find the one that works for you.
The Water Method
With the water method, you will need to fill a spray bottle or any small container with water. Before you spray your dog, try first to ask him to be quiet in your normal command voice. If this doesn’t work, go ahead and get your dog’s face wet. Don’t spray the water too close to his face. Some dogs might mistake this for play time, but if you always begin with using the word “quiet”, followed by a wet face, they will associate the two. Hopefully your dog isn’t the type to actually enjoy this!
Entertainment
Sometimes, being alone for a dog will cause boredom and he will bark to entertain himself. Before going away for any length of time, make sure your dog is watered and fed, has comfortable surroundings, and has his favorite toy for example. Keeping him happy during his alone time will definitely keep the barking at bay.
Comfort
As mentioned previously, some dogs will bark when they are lonely. After making sure they are in their comfort zone when you plan to leave them alone, if this doesn’t control his barking, you may want to try leaving the television on or playing some soothing music for them. Hearing other sounds sometimes prevents them from needing to hear themselves barking. You may even want to record your voice reading a book for example, in order to keep your dog pacified while away.
Finding which method works for your dog might take some time and effort, but when you get there, it will be much better for everyone, including the neighbors!
