fleas release meFish gotta swim, bird gotta fly – and yes, dogs gotta bark…but not constantly from morning to dark! With a little patience and consistency, you can train your dog to stop on command.
Take a look at these methods to help your dog bark less and help you keep your sanity:
1. Exercise first. If your dog hasn’t been walked or played with, she has loads of energy to bark at the mail man, the doorbell, or any other slight stimulus. A routine of walking or training exercises can use up some of that excess energy. A high energy dog may require more than one walk daily. A bored, energetic dog especially loves to bark.
2. Stop that! You can choose from many possible methods. Pick one and consistently use it. Probably the most difficult thing for anyone training a dog is the follow through. When you signal ‘stop’ and your dog stops barking for 10 seconds, but then starts again. Don’t give up. Keep going! Wait for your dog to submit.
3. Find your calm. If you’re angry and frustrated, you dog will be the same way — and he won’t follow your commands.
4. Strategically manage movement. If your dog gets excited by anyone walking by your living room window, close the curtains – or move your dog to another room. You can sidestep certain triggers and slowly re-introduce them to de-sensitive your pet to them.
5. Ask a professional. If despite your best efforts, you’re still faced with a very noisy dog, you might want to hire a professional to help your dog break this habit. Often an objective third party can suggest slight adjustments that make huge differences.
Barking may come naturally to your dog, but the habit doesn’t need to dominate your life. If you would like to discuss your pet or behavioral issues, give us a call.