Content
- Discard possible health problems
- Identify external stimuli
- How to reduce dog barking by eliminating the environmental stimulus
- When the environmental stimulus cannot be eliminated
- Eliminate barking by unconscious training
- Eliminate barking when your dog is alone
- Genetically based barking
If your dog has already acquired the habit of barking, what you need are strategies to correct excessive barking, and in this PeritoAnimal article, we'll show you some. Keep in mind that it is not possible to completely eliminate barking through training or environmental management. Your dog will still be able to bark and will in some circumstances. Even so, it is not necessary to completely eliminate barking either.
Also be aware that the habit of barking can be very ingrained and difficult to get rid of. In some cases, it is already so consolidated that the efforts needed to eliminate it are not justified, and the best thing is look for an alternative environmental management that does not eliminate barking, but avoids problems with neighbors. On the other hand, remember that there are quieter breeds of dogs and others that are more prone to barking, and that this behavior is pre-established in the genes of those breeds. If the dog you live with is a breed that barks a lot, the best thing you can do is try to redirect this behavior (not eliminate it), and manage the environment in a way that reduces the discomfort that your barking causes.
Since the reasons why dogs bark are many and diverse, there is no recipe for eliminating excessive barking. The methods to be used depend on the particular situation and depend on specific causes of each case. In some complex cases, you may even need the help of a professional trainer who will personally work with you and your dog. However, in most cases, the following protocol can be helpful in modifying your pet's behavior.
Discard possible health problems
If the dog was not used to barking and the barking started suddenly, there may be a health related cause. Barking and howling can be related to problems with vision, hearing, pain and other clinical causes. Whether the barking (or howling) has started suddenly or not, it's good that the first step in solving the problem is a visit to the vet. If there is any clinical cause associated with barking, the solution must also be clinical. In this case, canine training will have no role.
Be aware, however, that medications should not be a priority in this topic. This can be harmful to the dog in the long run and, if there are no health problems, the barking issue. should not be treated with drugs.
If your dog doesn't have any health problems, try to identify the external stimuli that are causing you to have a dog that barks a lot.
Identify external stimuli
If your dog barks in response to some external stimulus that you haven't noticed or ignored, the solution necessarily lies in identifying what that stimulus is. For identify it, you must first understand in which situations barking occurs.
if your dog really barks when accompanied, the way to identify the stimuli is to pay attention to the dog and the directions in which he is barking. Keep an eye out for everyday things that wouldn't normally catch your attention. For example, cyclists passing your doorstep, uncomfortable and loud noises (such as airplanes if you live near an airport), other dogs' howl, etc. can make your dog bark.
If, on the other hand, your dog barks when is left alone, you will have to find a way to observe it while you are alone. Keeping a camera on is an ideal way to see what your dog is doing when no one is around. You don't need to record an entire morning or an entire afternoon, 1 or 2 hours will do. And of course, make sure you leave the camera somewhere your dog can't reach,
If your dog barks in response to certain stimuli in the environment, you must decide whether you can and want to withdraw the stimulus or whether you prefer to train your dog to be silent on command.
How to reduce dog barking by eliminating the environmental stimulus
This is the easiest way to eliminate or reduce barking. If you've identified a stimulus that causes your dog to bark, the solution is very simple: don't let your dog notice that stimulus again. In some cases, you can literally eliminate the environmental stimulus, and in others, just modify the environment so that your dog no longer notices such stimulation.
For example, if when your dog is alone he barks at people or animals passing by the window, the simplest thing is to leave him in a place in the house where he does not have access to the windows facing the street. Many dogs act as guardians when left alone, defending the house from any "threats" they may perceive. If these dogs are left in a room without windows facing the street, or if access to windows is limited by folded doors positioned strategically, dogs will not see these "threats" and will stop barking.
Or, if your pet sleeps in the yard and barks at the cats that roam the roof and walls every night, you can find a way to prevent cats from getting on your roof and walls, or allow your pet to pass. dog sleeps indoors. In either case, you will have eliminated the stimulus that causes the barking. On the other hand, trying to train your dog not to bark at cats will take a lot of time and effort, and you're likely to be unsuccessful.
When the environmental stimulus cannot be eliminated
In some cases, you can't eliminate the environmental stimulus which causes barking. For example, if the dog barks a lot when the doorbell rings. In this situation, removing the bell to fix the problem is not an option. In cases like these, you can try to extinguish the behavior so that your dog ignores the stimulus, or train incompatible behaviors so that your dog does something else instead of barking.
Our advice for these cases is to teach your dog to bark and shut up with a command. This way, the stimulus will continue to cause barking, but you can easily stop it. Furthermore, train your dog will help silence him in other situations where he might bark inappropriately.
Eliminate barking by unconscious training
If your dog barks a lot in certain situations, and thus gets you to give him something to shut up, it's because you unconsciously trained him to bark. These dogs bark to get food, to go out on the street, to be petted, to receive their toys, to climb into bed, etc. In this case, the probability of eliminating excessive barking is high if you are willing and consistent and patient with training. The solution is either extinction of the behavior or training in incompatible behaviors.
One option is simply ignore the barks of the dog (but be careful, this only works if your dog barks because you trained him without noticing), for example, if your pet barks for food while you eat your breakfast. Since you always gave him food to shut up, the dog learned to bark to get food. The solution is to ignore it when you bark, but you have to be very patient and consistent.
If you always ignore it, not even paying attention to it, the barking behavior will eventually be eliminated. THE extinction of behavior works great in these cases, but it can take a lot of patience. Some dogs are so used to barking to get what they want that they can bark incessantly for several minutes. Their behavior may even worsen just before extinction occurs.
Another alternative to eliminating barking if your dog has been unconsciously trained to bark is to train incompatible behavior. Using the same example above, your dog barks constantly when you sit down to breakfast. Instead of ignoring it, you can teach barking behavior. You can teach him to put a toy in his mouth, making it very difficult for him to bark. The problem is, you'll still have to give him food to reinforce the new behavior.
A behavior that is not necessarily incompatible, but that works well to eliminate this behavior from a dog that barks a lot is teach him to go to bed when you sit at the table, and remain there while you have breakfast. If the dog's bed is not in the same place as the situation he barks for (for example, where you eat breakfast), you will have been able to eliminate the stimulus that makes him bark and will have solved the problem.
Remember that whatever strategy you use, it's very useful. train your dog in canine obedience. This will teach you self-control, reducing your tendency to bark to get things done. Offering your dog interactive toys with food while the situation that causes the barking occurs (for example, during breakfast) can also help to eliminate the barking.
Eliminate barking when your dog is alone
If your dog barks a lot when he is left alone but does not bark in response to a specific stimulus other than loneliness, it could be from stress, frustration, anxiety, boredom, or other similar causes.
In these cases, the best way to eliminate excessive barking is through an environmental enrichment program based on interactive toys when your dog is alone. Be sure to teach him how to use the toys recommended, because there are also non-recommended toys for him, and leave the toys with him when he's alone.
For dogs that bark a lot at night when sleeping outside, such as in the backyard, the quickest and most effective solution is allow them to sleep inside. Of course, you will have to teach them not to dirty the house and not to destroy things, but generally, this is a quick and effective solution. Also, it's good to train him in canine obedience to teach him self-control and provide more companionship and exercise.
Some people don't have time for all of this and hire dog walkers, trainers or daycare services. These alternatives can work well, because dogs get tired physically and mentally and stay together longer. At doggie day care they are usually the best option when you find one that has good safety measures and activity programs for the dogs.
Anyway, before you think your dog barks a lot when he's left alone, record him or find a way to see what he does when he's left alone at home. Many dogs bark and howl when their guardians are leaving the house, but then they calm down and spend time sleeping or chewing on their toys. This is what some trainers call "anxiety during separation", instead of separation anxiety.
If the barking only occurs when you're leaving the house, but your dog calms down, you need to find a way to distract him while you're out so he doesn't notice you leaving. Furthermore, avoid saying goodbye with big expressions of affection. Say goodbye normally, as you say goodbye to your human relatives, or prevent your dog from seeing you leave.
Genetically based barking
If your dog's relatives (brothers, sisters, parents, etc.) also bark, there is likely to be a strong genetic basis for this behavior. Likewise, there can be a strong genetic influence if your dog belongs to a breed that barks a lot, like the Shetland Shepherd, the beagle, some terriers, etc. If that's the case, there's not much you can do to correct excessive barking. In these circumstances, the best thing to do is train your dog to bark and shut up when given a command, and also give him the opportunity to bark in appropriate situations. For example, take the opportunity to make him bark in the park or other open places where he doesn't bother anyone. Do this only if your pet is truly a compulsive barker that you cannot correct with any of the above.
If you want to read more articles similar to My dog barks a lot, what to do?, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.