How to handle excessive barking

What does it mean when a dog barks? The bark is the dog's language, and it can mean many things. Your dog barks when he is alerting you to an intruder, when he is afraid, when he is playful, and when he is bored. Barking is caused by the presence of stimuli such as strange people, dogs, sights or sounds, the owner's absence, or as an attention seeking mechanism.

The easiest way to control barking is to socialize your dog to make him comfortable around people, places and things and to instill in him a strong chew toy habit so that he is mentally and physically exercised and occupied.

However, just as you would not attempt to completely silence a person, you should not try to completely stop your dog from barking. Your dog just needs to learn some basic bark control such as when to bark and for how long. Regardless of the reason for your dog barking, your goals are

1. to properly socialize him,
2. to teach him to focus on something other than barking, and
3. to teach him to speak and be quiet on command so you can control when and for how long he barks.

Let’s talk about four types of Barkers:

Alarm Barker: Dogs who bark at the presence of intruders can be a valuable asset. Actually, barking is believed to be one of the main reasons we domesticated dogs in the first place and one of the reasons we live with dogs today. Usually, it is not the barking that is a problem, just that the dog is a little too enthusiastic.

Yard Barker: Barking dogs are one of the most common complaints of urban and suburban neighbors. A dog that is left outside will alert to all the visual and auditory stimuli. Do not leave your dog outside. Instead, you need to housetrain and chew toy train your dog.

Attention Seeking Barker: Often dogs bark to get you to pay attention to them. When you are relaxed and in a good mood, tie your dog to a secure spot in the house. Stand or sit next to your dog and ignore him. When he barks, move away. When he stops, even for just a moment, move closer. Your dog will soon realize that barking means you leave and quiet means you return. When he is quiet for 10 to 15 seconds, approach and praise him followed by a treat.

Owner-Absent Barker: What if your dog barks because he is bored and stressed when left at home alone? Unfortunately, our canine friends are often left alone for long periods of time. Being social animals, it is tough for dogs to understand why their family leaves them. However, you can teach your dog to tolerate and even enjoy your absence. First, teach your dog to spend time alone when you are home. Most dog owners make the mistake of spending all the time they are home with their dog at their side. Instead, teach your dog to enjoy quiet moments by himself while you are home, so he will feel more confident when you are not there. Frequently and for short periods of time, confine your dog to another room, his crate or on a tie-down and give him a well-stuffed chew toy to occupy his time.

Barking itself is not the problem. The amount of barking, the timing of the barking, or the inability to stop the barking are the problems. 

Teaching “No Bark”

As with some other behaviors like digging, barking (or baying or howling) is a trait of some breeds. Many hounds bark, howl, or bay when left alone, when they see or smell another animal or a person, when they want your attention, etc. If your dog is barking or howling when ignored or left, then it could be loneliness. Or there could be a specific noise or person or item in his environment that triggers his barking. Or he could suffer from separation anxiety. Barking itself is not the problem. The amount of barking, the timing of the barking, or the inability to stop the barking are the problems.

Barking itself is not the problem. The amount of barking, the timing of the barking, or the inability to stop the barking are the problems. Your dog just needs to learn some basic bark control such as when to bark and for how long.

Teach your dog to bark and be quiet on cue; thereby having an on/off switch.

One way to implement “No Bark” training:

1. Invite three friends to come over for a speak-and-shush party, and within half an hour you will have a well- trained barker.
2. Have your dog's treat on hand.
3. Next, instruct your visitors to knock on the door and reward your dog by saying "thank you" or “good boy”, followed by a treat when he barks. Your dog may look a bit shocked for a moment. After all, he is probably used to being yelled at when he barks.
4. Then, to get him to be quiet, say "shush” or “quiet” or “no bark,” and waggle a piece of treat in front of his nose. Once he sniffs the food, he will be quiet and so give him the treat as a reward.
5. Repeat this many times, and your dog will become increasingly aware of how much fun it is to speak on request and how rewarding it is to stop barking on request.

Another method for teaching “No Bark”:

1. When someone rings the doorbell and your dog barks, say “good bark”
2. Tease your dog with his favorite toy or treat and say “bark”. When he barks, say “good dog” – do this when you are standing by the treat jar
3. If your dog barks and barks at a squirrel or at you, say “no bark” and go over to the dog and gently encircle his muzzle with your hand
4. When your dog quits barking, say “good no bark”
5. This will have to be repeated several times, but soon only the command “no bark” will help you to get a quiet response

If all this does not work, the next step is put your dog’s training collar and leash on him. When he starts barking, grab the leash and do a quick jerk and release while using the “no” command. Once you have his attention, use the “no bark” or “quiet” command. When he is quiet, praise him.

Many dogs, especially hounds, bark, howl, or bay when left alone, when they see or smell another animal or a person, when they want your attention, etc. If your dog is barking or howling when ignored or left, then it could be loneliness. Or there could be a specific noise or person or item in his environment that triggers his barking. Or he could suffer from separation anxiety. Barking itself is not the problem. The amount of barking, the timing of the barking, or the inability to stop the barking are the problems. Teach your dog to bark and be quiet on cue; thereby having an on/off switch.

One way for teaching “No Bark”:

1. When someone rings the doorbell and your dog barks, say “good bark”
2. Tease your dog with his favorite toy or treat and say “bark”. When he barks, say “bark” again. When he barks, say “good bark”
3. If your dog barks and barks at a squirrel or other thing out the window, say “no bark” and go over to the dog and gently encircle his muzzle with your hand
4. When your dog quits barking, say “good no bark”
5. This will have to be repeated several times, but soon only the command “no bark” will help you to get a quiet response

Another method to implement “No Bark” training:

1. Invite three friends to come over for a speak-and-shush party, and within half an hour you will have a well- trained barker.
2. Have your dog's treat on hand.
3. Next, instruct your visitors to knock on the door and reward your dog by saying "thank you" or “good boy”, followed by a treat when he barks. Your dog may look a bit shocked for a moment. After all, he is probably used to being yelled at when he barks.
4. Then, to get him to be quiet, say "shush” or “quiet” or “no bark,” and waggle a piece of treat in front of his nose. Once he sniffs the food, he will be quiet and so give him the treat as a reward.
5. Repeat this many times, and your dog will become increasingly aware of how much fun it is to speak on request and how rewarding it is to stop barking on request.

Always crate your dog when you leave him. He will feel more secure in his den. He will also not be able to see other animals and people unless they are in the house with him.

Do not shut him in a bathroom or tie him outside. Many dogs are intimidated by closed doors or by being shut away from you. This can negatively affect his personality. If you need to shut him in “his room” use a baby gate (or dog gate) so there is not a solid wall.

Make sure he has plenty of exercise and your attention each day.

Try to determine if there is a trigger which sets him off – for example, seeing children walking home from school or other dogs out for a walk with their masters. If you figure out what sets him off, put him where he cannot see or hear the trigger for a few days. You may need to cover a window he uses. Then gradually allow him to see or hear it with you present and say “NO” when he barks. If he lets the trigger happen without his barking, praise him. Give him a treat and tell him how good he is.

If none of this works or your dog barks when he is outdoors, put your dog’s training collar and leash on him. When he starts barking, grab the leash and do a quick jerk and release while using the “no” command. Once you have his attention, use the “no bark” or “quiet” command. When he is quiet, praise him.

When he is outdoors and starts barking when it isn’t warranted, blow a whistle or shake a coffee can with coins in it to get his attention and then say firmly, “NO bark.” If he starts again, repeat the procedure. On the third time, make him come into the house.

It may be beneficial to distract your dog with a favorite toy or a Kong® filled with peanut butter at times he is likely to bark. The Kong is especially useful if you will be gone and he barks when you are not at home. If he is busy licking peanut butter, he will probably not bark.