Controlling your dog’s barking is an important part of your responsibility as an owner. After all, excessive barking can be annoying not only to you but also to your neighbors.
The reason for so much noise
The first step to solving the problem is to understand why a dog barks. Some dogs bark because they are trying to let you know they want something. They may be hungry, thirsty or just want to play Dog trainer spring Texas. If this goes beyond reasonable limits, it’s time to teach him other ways to get his attention, such as giving him his paw or waiting near the door or food bowl.
Play time.
Many dogs bark when they see other dogs, to invite them to play together. It’s completely normal, but it’s up to you to decide how much barking is acceptable and have your dog wait to play until he’s calm.
Home alone
Your dog may bark if left alone. Try leaving music or the radio on to provide familiar human noise. You can also give him some toys that require extra work and attention to keep him busy while you are away.
A good way to reduce anxiety is to give your dog an old, unwashed piece of clothing or anything that has a strong family smell.
As soon as you get back, play with your dog a little and exercise with him. The dog will have missed you and there is no better way to reestablish the bond.
On guard
One of the most common reasons why a dog barks is to warn. If your dog sees someone approaching the house, he will bark to let you know. Since he sees you as the leader of the pack, he will want you to investigate him.
Some dogs have been trained to raise the alarm and you may want to encourage this behavior. Let your dog bark to get your attention, but silence him once you’ve made sure there are no intruders.
Follow a system
In all aspects of training a dog you will need a system. Dogs respond to routine and this will significantly increase their chances of success. It’s never too late to teach older dogs new tricks and there are good centers where you can learn your dog’s control skills.
“Cállate”
One of the ways to teach your dog the “shut up” command is to shush or distract him every time he barks. Use something that makes a lot of noise, like a can full of coins, to get his attention and then firmly say the command “shut up.”
When the dog stops barking, praise him and give him a treat. Never shout if he wants you to stop barking as it can cause anxiety and harm learning. Likewise, you can easily confuse your dog because he may think that you are barking too. Yelling only reinforces the habit of barking.
In summary
Training is always the best way to correct your dog’s behavior. However, remember that in most cases barking is normal dog behavior. You only need to take action when this becomes unreasonable and harmful.