DOG CARE

How to Stop Puppy Barking – Training Tips

October 26, 2023

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How to Stop Puppy Barking – Training Tips

There’s no denying the fact that barking is a natural reaction for most canines. But sometimes, dog barking can become a problem and an annoyance. Oftentimes, owners try to stop a dog from barking in ways that fail to address long-term behavior. Examples include yelling, rewarding bad habits, or inconsistently disciplining.

Dogs bark for lots of reasons. They might be excited, bored, frustrated, excited or even worried and they may bark at different times for different reasons.

For example, if your dog hasn’t had enough exercise, or doesn’t feel stimulated they may bark to signal that they are bored, or frustrated. Physical stimulation is very important, so you could try increasing your dog’s exercise, making their daily walks more fun or spending more time playing with them in the house or garden. Mental stimulation such as scent games, training, or interactive puzzle feeders would also help with this kind of barking.

Think about your dog’s daily routine. If they have a lot of free time to themselves, or there are certain points in the day you notice more barking these are good points to introduce training and activities. This will also give you some clues as to why they are barking.

Types Of Barking Dogs

The Alpha/Territorial

Alpha/Territorial barkers typically guard breed types and/or unneutered males. These barkers are meant to protect their house, yard, and general “air space” from intruders like a squirrel, passing dogs, mailmen, or a neighbour. Neutering your dog may help to take its territorial edge off. Proper training can get the dog’s instincts in line if it’s a genetic issue. Your dog may stop barking when you leave the house by restricting him from patrolling the area around the front door or porch and blocking his view of the property limits (use an enclosure rather than chain-link fencing). Keep a close eye on this kind of barker- when you are home, don’t let your dog bark at passersby. After all, if you cannot keep him quiet while you’re present, you can’t expect to when you’re absent.

The Genetically Prone Bark

Pretty much all terriers and most small dogs- especially Poodles, Maltese, and miniature Schnauzers– are in this category. These breed types are genetically programmed to bark at sounds or movements they sense. Originally developed to warn the farmer about the rabbit in the cabbage patch, they now continually notify you of the presence of neighbours, ringing phones, or the elevator’s arrival. It’s important to teach your dog to bark less. You should be able to turn your dog’s “on” or “off” through your orders. We know you’re not trying to suppress their personality; it’s just important for them to be appropriate. Designate a place or time where your yappy pup can bark as much as he wants!

The Demanding Barker

This self-assured little soul will not be left alone after the party ends! He’ll stay at the door and bark at you to come back and play. Barking set-ups (discussed below) and engaging toys will help quiet this mischievous pooch, as will the citronella anti-bark collar.

The Bored Under exercised

Hound, herding, and sporting breed types were selectively bred to work all day. Particularly in the urban environment, many pointers, retrievers, collies, setters, and the like are unfortunately under-exercised. These dogs must be kept busy, or their boredom will turn into barking (along with other annoying habits). If you have this kind of dog, it needs at least two hours of aerobic, vigorous exercise every day. Before you go to work, you should always leave behind a dog that is panting and exhausted from challenging play.

The Fearful, Anxious Dog

This group includes dogs of toy and small breeds, dogs that have been adopted from shelters, and dogs that have been moved about a lot. Their pasts could involve being too protective, being isolated or cuddled, or not being socialized properly. If your dog has never been out of the backyard or has always lived in an apartment, it may exhibit anxious behaviours when placed in a new home environment. These dogs get severe separation anxiety when left behind, even briefly. Most of these dogs require proper socialization with the world around them. Obedience work with plenty of positive reinforcement will build confidence and yield a dog that can adapt and cope better.

Why Dogs Bark

Barking is one type of vocal communication that dogs use, and it can mean different things depending on the situation. Here are some reasons why dogs bark:

Territorial/Protective: When a person or an animal comes into an area your dog considers their territory, that often triggers excessive barking. As the threat gets closer, the barking often gets louder. Your dog will look alert and even aggressive during this type of barking.

Alarm/Fear: Some dogs bark at any noise or object that catches their attention or startles them. This can happen anywhere, not just in their home territory. Their ears will be back and tail tucked when they are in a state of fear.

Boredom/Loneliness: Dogs are pack animals. Dogs left alone for long periods, whether in the house or in the yard, can become bored or sad and often will bark because they are unhappy.

Greeting/Play: Dogs often bark when greeting people or other animals. It’s usually a happy bark, accompanied with tail wags and sometimes jumping.

Attention Seeking: Dogs often bark when they want something, such as going outside, playing, or getting a treat.

Separation Anxiety/Compulsive Barking: Dogs with separation anxiety often bark excessively when left alone. They also usually exhibit other symptoms as well, such as pacing, destructiveness, depression, and inappropriate elimination. Compulsive barkers seem to bark just to hear the sound of their voices. They also often make repetitive movements as well, such as running in circles or along a fence.

How to Treat Excessive Barking

There are a lot of stop-barking devices available on the market. The most commonly known are bark collars that deliver an electric shock, high-pitched squeal, or stinging spray of citronella mist whenever a pet dog barks. Other devices include ultrasonic emitters that are placed in a room and activated by barking and muzzles that keep the dog’s jaws held shut.

These devices may offer a short-term fix, but they do nothing to address the underlying cause of your dog’s barking. Eventually, the problem may surface through other behavioral problems, as your dog continues to try to communicate his need or problem to you. A dog prevented from barking caused by separation anxiety may instead take to destroying furniture or urinating indoors when his owner is away.

The devices also can be inhumane. Any dog’s bark can set off a bark collar or ultrasonic device, meaning your dog may end up receiving punishment for another dog’s behavior. Also, a muzzle will keep a dog from being able to eat, drink, and cool off through panting.

Getting your dog to bark less will take time, work, practice, and consistency. It won’t happen overnight, but with proper techniques and time, you can see progress.

Here are a few tips to remember as you start your efforts to control your dog’s barking.

Shouting stimulates your dog to bark more because they think you’re joining in. So the first rule is to speak calmly and firmly, but don’t yell.
Most dogs don’t know what you want when you’re yelling at them to “shut up.” So train your dog to understand the word “Quiet!”

Here are two methods:

When your dog is barking, say “Quiet” in a calm, firm voice. Wait until they stop barking, even if it’s just to take a breath, then praise them and give them a treat. Just be careful to never reward them while they are barking. Eventually they will figure out that if they stop barking at the word “quiet” they get a treat (and make it a delicious treat, such as chicken, to make it worth more than the barking.)

Alternatively, you can teach your dog to “speak; once they are doing that reliably, signal them to stop barking with a different command, such as “quiet”, while holding your finger to your lips (dogs often pick up body signals faster than voice commands.) Practice these commands when they are calm, and in time they should learn to stop barking at your command, even when they want to bark at something.

A tired dog is a quiet dog. If your dog barks when alone, tire them out before you go. Take a long walk or run, play ball or take a trip to the dog park before leaving.
Don’t allow problems to go on and on. The longer a dog does something, the more ingrained it becomes. Barking can give dogs an adrenaline rush, which makes the barking pleasant. And allowing a dog to bark in certain situations, such as when the mailman arrives, can eventually make a dog aggressive in those situations. What if your dog gets out one day as the mail is being delivered? Deal with barking problems as quickly as possible.
Some medical problems can cause excessive barking, from bee stings to brain disease to ongoing pain. Older pets can develop a form of canine senility that causes excessive vocalizations. It’s always a good idea to have a pet checked by a veterinarian to be sure there’s no medical reason

Once you know why your dog is barking, you can start working on ways to decrease their annoying habit:

Territorial/Protective/Alarm/Fear: Because this type of barking is often motivated by fear or a perceived threat to their territory or people, it can be lessened by limiting what your dog sees. If they are in a fenced yard, use solid wood instead of chain fencing. Indoors, limit access to windows and doors or cover them with an opaque film.

Boredom/Loneliness: If your dog barks excessively while you’re gone, you need to provide more activities or companionship to keep them from being lonely or bored.

Bringing an outdoor dog inside will lessen the noise impact on neighbors, and provide extra security for your home. It’s also safer, because dogs left alone outside can face theft, escapes, poisoning, harassment, and other dangers.

But dogs can still bark inside if bored. So if your dog barks while you’re at work all day, get someone to walk your dog or play with them for at least an hour a day.

Providing something for your dog to do during the day also can help. Try leaving out a couple of food-dispensing toys, which come in different shapes and sizes. These can keep them busy for several hours, then they’ll probably take a nap.

Dogs that bark all night should be brought indoors. Dogs quickly learn to sleep quietly inside, and are added protection for your family.

You also can drop your pet off at doggie daycare two or three days a week, or take up agility, obedience, or another active form of dog training.

Greeting/Play: To stop a dog from going into a barking frenzy every time you come home or the doorbell rings, you’ll need to teach them other behaviors. One way is to train your dog to go to a spot and stay there when the door opens. It’s best if they can see the door, but not be too close to it. Pick a spot and practice getting your dog to go there and stay, but don’t touch the door yet. Use lots of treats and praise, making it a game.

Once your pet is doing this reliably, start opening the door while they are in their spot.

Once you can open the door and your dog will stay in their spot, have someone actually come in the door. Of course your dog will break from the spot at first, but with time and practice, they’ll learn to stay in their spot when the door opens and guests come in.

Never reward your dog for barking at you when you come home. Do not pet them or even make eye contact until your dog stops barking and sits quietly. Then acknowledge and praise them.

Attention seeking: Never reward barking. If your dog barks when they want water, and you fill the dish, you’ve taught them to bark to get what they want. If they bark to go outside, it’s the same. So teach them to ring a bell you tied to the door handle to go out. Bang the water dish before filling it, and maybe they’ll start pushing it with their nose to make the same noise. Find ways for your dog to communicate without barking.

If they bark and you see their dish is empty, wait a few minutes, go do something else, then fill it, so they won’t know their barking was effective.

Remember not to scold your pet. For a dog, that’s still considered attention. The key is to ignore your dog and what they want, until they stop barking.

Separation Anxiety/Compulsive Barking: Separation anxiety and compulsive barking are both difficult to treat and should be handled with the help of a veterinary behaviorist or a certified applied animal behaviorist. Dogs with these problems often need drug therapy to help them cope while learning new, more acceptable behaviors.

Bark Collars. Should you use one?

There are a number of products on the market that promise to stop barking quickly. Collars that go on your dog can deliver audible or ultrasonic corrections to your dog, but they aren’t effective on all dogs. Citronella-spraying collars often work, but some dogs learn they can run them out of spray and then bark at will.

Shock collars, which deliver a painful jolt to your pet, can cause pets harm and may make dogs aggressive, especially if they associate the person or animal they are barking at with the pain.

Other off-collar devices can work well if your dog barks in a set area. Bark-activated water sprayers or noisemakers switch on when they pick up barking, shooting water at your pet or emitting an irritating sound. These can sometimes break a dog of barking in a given area, but they work best if you are home to reward your pet when they stop barking. That helps reinforce what you want your dog to do.

What not to do:

Don’t encourage your dog to bark at some noises (a door slamming, people walking by) and discourage them from barking at others. Be consistent.
Never use a muzzle or other means of constraint to keep a dog quiet for long periods or when they aren’t supervised. It can be dangerous to your pet.

*Debarking is very controversial and is considered inhumane by many. It does not address the underlying cause of the barking. It is a surgical procedure in which the folds of tissue on either side of a dog’s larynx, or voice box, are removed, leaving dogs with a raspy bark instead of a full bark. Complications are common and can be life threatening, including breathing difficulties, higher incidents of choking, and ongoing pain. Dogs also have been known to regain their voices after the surgery. The procedure does not stop the barking, it only makes it sound different.