Training a puppy to not bark is important so they wouldn’t keep barking excessively. Barking is a form of communication but they can puppies can express themselves in other ways.
Table of Contents
Why do puppies bark?
Puppies bark to communicate themselves or assure themselves. They bark when they are excited, angry, frightened, frustrated, afraid, or lonely.
It is because of their emotions that puppies communicate. There is also separation anxiety that can cause your puppy to bark when they feel lonely.
Puppies also bark as a way to alert you to noises and situations happening when they are 6 to 7 months of age.
If you let your puppy bark at noises outside, they will grow to bark at people and other dogs so it is important to train a puppy to not bark.
Tips for training a puppy to not bark
1.) Identify why your puppy is barking
Understand the causes of your puppy’s barking. Is it because they are afraid, territorial, bored, excited, or have a health issue.
To do so, you have too watch your puppy over a period of time. You can write down the time, duration of the barking, response, and any other causes.
2.) Don’t yell back
The tone of voice and body language is important in calming your puppy. So make sure to use a calming voice and body language so your puppy. Yelling can make them think that you are barking too with them.
3.) Remove what is making your puppy bark
By removing what makes your puppy bark, you remove the stimuli so your puppy is less likely to bark. An example would be if your puppy sees people through the window, you can put them in another room or close the curtains.
What’s important in this step is to remove anything that makes your puppy bark.
4.) Don’t give them attention when they bark
If your puppy barks at you, don’t run to them. This action is like a reward to puppies. Instead, calmly say “hush” and when your puppy stop barking, offer them a treat and praise.
If they keep barking, then turn your back and leave. Your puppy will learn that your leaving is linked with them stopping their barking.
5.) Make a loud noise
By making a loud noise, you shock and surprise your puppy to stay silent. You can do so by dropping a something really loud on the floor such as a can. The goal is to not frighten the puppy but rather startle them so they stop barking.
Make sure to not frighten or harm your puppy by dropping something that scares them a lot.
6.) Put a bark limit to your puppy
Allow your puppy to bark for a certain amount of times and to bark on command before you come over and ask them to stop. To ask them to stop, tell them things such as “good dog, now hush”.
After they become quiet, praise them and give them a treat. Your puppy will automatically stop barking when they are eating the treat and their attention will be diverted to the treat.
7.) Gradually desensitize your puppy to the barking situation
Regularly puppy barking at people or other animals is a problem that many dog parents face. It helps to desensitize your puppy to the person or animal that they bark at.
This is done by gradually exposing your puppy to the stimulus. An example would be if your puppy barks at the mailman. Then, you should make them meet the mailman and agree with the mailman that he pets your puppy.
By doing so, your puppy learns that there is no aggression or fear toward the mailman.
8.) Give your puppy chew toys
Some puppies bark out of boredom and being alone. Another tip on how to teach a puppy not to bark is to provide them with a mental and physical stimulation.
This is done through giving them chew toys that will stimulate them and make them less likely to bark.
Make sure the toy is of the right size and style for your puppy.
9.) Ignore your puppy when they bark
If your puppy is barking for attention, you got to ignore them. To do so, you will have to walk away from them by turning your back away from them.
After that, when your puppy stops barking, give them a treat to reinforce the positive behavior. This training method may take up more than an hour because your puppy may continue barking for longer periods of time.
The most important thing is to have patience and to not lose your temper when trying to calm down your puppy.
11.) Take your puppy out on short walks
Another tip to indirectly your teach puppy not to bark is exercise. By taking your puppy out on short walks, you make sure that a puppy becomes exhausted which makes them less likely to bark.
Consult with your vet about how long should your puppy safely walk. After knowing the duration, put the leash on your puppy and walk with them.
If you don’t want to walk, you can just play with them fetch. The important thing is to give your puppy exercise so they become tired and not bark.
12.) Organize a consistent potty training schedule
One of the important tips in training a puppy to not bark is to have a consistent potty training schedule. Make a consistent potty training schedule for puppies so they know when they can potty and they feel like they have something to do.
Aِ rule is that a puppy relieves itself every 1 hour for every month of age. Also, puppies can’t hold their bladder at night so you need to let them out when they start to whine.
13.) Make a vet appointment
It’s possible that your puppy has health problems that are causing them to bark. Some of these health problems are that they have a bladder disorder, being deaf, or are compulsive barkers.
14.) Enroll them in puppy training
You can take your puppy to a puppy training classes or talk to your trainer about private or group classes.
These classes will provide a positive outlet for your puppy and teach them various commands such as the “quiet” command.
15.)Teach your puppy to bark on command
Another tip to teach puppy not to bark is to use the “speak ” and “quiet” command. Use the “speak” command to let your puppy bark. Also, when they start to bark, give them a treat.
If you want them to stop barking, use the “quiet” command. Give your puppy a treat when they stop barking.
16.) Crate train your puppy
You have to teach your puppy how to become crated calmly. This happens by exhausting your puppy so when they are put in a crate they become really calm.
Stay in the room after you have initially crated them. Also, give them treats when they don’t bark while they are in the crate.
17.) Clicker train your puppy
Clicker training is a process in which you use the clicker to make a noise whenever your puppy makes a good behavior. After making the noise, you give your puppy immediately treats and praise.
By doing so, you teach your puppy that certain behaviors are accepted and encouraged.
Conclusion
In conclusion, training a puppy to not bark is effective when you follow certain tips. These tips help make your puppy stop barking.
To know more information about dealing with barking dogs, check Dealing with Barking Dogs: The Ultimate Tips Guide.