Dealing with barking dogs constantly: Why? How to solve the problem?
A dog that barks incessantly becomes quickly embarrassing for his master but also for the neighborhood, even the close entourage (family, friends).
The dog “nuisance yaw” can become difficult to live: how to manage a dog that barks on visitors and passers-by? Or, a dog barking alone when his masters are away from home? This is an unfortunately common behavior problem.
To begin, you will need to identify the exact cause of his barking, before taking the necessary steps to put an end to this bad habit, often well anchored …
Dealing with barking dogs
To stop barking, there are several solutions that must be adapted depending on the reasons that push your dog to adopt this annoying behavior. If your dog is barking in your presence, there is every chance that he will ask for attention: he must first consider devoting more time while doing what is necessary to break this habit.
We can then resort to certain conditioning techniques, or counter-conditioning as appropriate through positive/negative reinforcement: reward the dog when it is silent, and on the contrary, ignore it when it barks. Raising your voice as the dog barks is not a sustainable solution. Finally, keep in mind that it is perfectly normal and natural for a dog to express itself by voice, and better a dog that barks from time to time rather than an animal that depresses in silence because he could come to exteriorize his unease in a more embarrassing way, in particular by destructive behavior: ransacking your apartment, indulging inside … The whole thing is to make him understand the limits, show him what is acceptable and what is not.
- make a friend to your dog
This is the first thing to ask: is your dog sociable enough? Is it accustomed to humans as to other dogs, and to different types of people such as children, the elderly?
Indeed, it happens that some dogs react to a “stimulus” in particular, often out of fear; it can be something very specific, such as people carrying a shopping cart, an umbrella, a hat, a certain type of clothing … If this is the case of your dog, once the “stimuli” or “stimuli” identified, it may be relatively easy and quick to remedy the problem. This involves habituating the dog to what makes him bark: for example if he is still barking at children, you can start dealing with barking dogs by inviting children to your home and tell your dog to stay in his place; then invite him to greet them, and let the children reward him with treats.
The idea is to strengthen by all means good behavior: to do this, we can simply encourage the voice by taking a benevolent tone, or caress the dog whenever he remains calm in the presence of the stimulus. If this desensitization fails, it will be necessary to resume education in greater depth.
- Work on his obedience
Training is always the best way to deal with a dog’s bad behavior.
Begin by teaching your dog a single order, always using the same word and intonation, to claim silence: “shut up!” ; “silence!” ; “hush!”, etc.
Always remain patient, positive and optimistic during the sessions, and do not hesitate to use other exercises to develop your obedience: by taking the basic commands like “sit”, “come here”, “not move”, you set limits and help reduce stress – a dog barker is often lacking landmarks, and spending time with him will help you (re) take its marks
If it is a dominant dog, you will give him back his place in the hierarchy by causing him to obey you. Aside from the exercises, try not to pay any attention to him if he begins to bark: even looking at him will give him the impression that he has got the attention he wants! Force yourself to ignore it completely, and reward him as soon as he stops, even accidentally.
why dogs are barking
There are different profiles of dog’s “barkers”: some simply seek to communicate by this means, to attract attention or to claim something. Other dogs, left alone at home in the absence of their master, do not tolerate loneliness and thus express their feeling of abandonment. Still, others bark naturally to defend the house or their territory … sometimes a little too much.
It may be a deeper behavioral disorder, especially if the dog is dominant, that only a tailor-made training can correct; It will then be necessary to resume the basics slowly but surely, sometimes with the help of a canine behaviorist. But above all, take the time to observe your dog to identify the cause of his nuisance barking.
Anti-barking devices
Not all dogs are so docile. But also, some homeowners do not have much time to devote to exercises like the “stop”. Unlike the latter, it is a negative stimulation method. Whenever the animal barks, it feels an unpleasant sensation. This is done either by an electrostatic shock, or a citronella spray, or by vibration or ultrasound. The more the animal feels these stimulations, the more he will correct his actions. Namely, this method does not involve major risks for the animal.
The operation of anti-barking collars
The anti-barking collars differ in terms of the sensations emitted, but also in the mode of triggering. The first refers to operation by barking. As soon as the collar detects a bark, it activates. We must remain vigilant when using this type of device. If another dog barks near your doggie, the collar of the dog is triggered. It will be corrected for a fault he did not commit.
There are also anti-barking collars by vibration. These refer to the vocal cords of the animal. These vibrate when the dog barks and the collar is activated. However, be aware that it’s not just barking that could make the vocal chord areas vibrate.
Necklaces with less precision are triggered at the slightest scratching of the neck or when the dog runs. Finally, new technologies have combined the two modes of operation for maximum assurance. The collar only activates when it hears a yelp and at the same time detects vibrations of the vocal cords.
ultrasonic dog repellers
This dog repeller from has several modes of operation:
- ultrasound
- Beeps
- Dazzling light
- It has a range of up to 15 meters.
- Very convenient for joggers on their outings.
- The use of ultrasound is also useful for training dogs and improving their behavior
Dealing with a Neighbor’s Barking Dog
We are all dog owners or not, confronted barking dogs. Whether on the street, at our neighbor’s or at home,
it is not uncommon for our pets to express themselves! This can be very unpleasant and can quickly turn into a nightmare if the dog barks all day.
You will have to find the cause of these barking and therefore the appropriate solution so that you can succeed in Dealing with barking dogs …
If your dog barks in its sleep, and you want to know why, read our blog post Dog Barking in Sleep
