Barking is a dog's form of communication, both to you, to other dogs, and to other people. If you're thinking about preventing your dog from barking, think again. Wishing a dog never to bark is as silly as wishing a baby never to cry. However, you can reduce the frequency with which annoying barking occurs by taking a few simple steps. You can work around your annoying barking problem and strengthen your relationship with your dog by picking up or snatching treats as a warning for barking, and giving practice to stop barking when ordered.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Understanding Dog Barking
Step 1. Observe when your dog is barking
Dogs have various types of barks, the appearance of which is usually triggered by certain situations. Find out what might be causing the barking behavior when your dog starts barking. Below are some common causes that encourage dogs to bark:
- Fear / Alertness. When a dog is startled or scared, it can bark. Dogs who have a timid nature tend to bark every time a strange sound or thing is seen or heard, no matter where it is.
- Area protection. Dogs protect areas that are considered their 'territories'. In essence, it's any area your dog associates with you, such as your home or yard, your car, or even the 'private space' around you. Dogs also sometimes consider the places or streets that they often pass as their territory. This means that if you frequently walk your dog on the same trails every day, he's likely to consider anything along the way as his territory.
- Attention. Many dogs bark to get attention. These barks are usually very short and focused. This happens a lot, especially if you reward the barking behavior by responding to the barking.
- greeting. Dogs greet by barking. Dogs can also bark at other people or other animals. Sometimes, dogs also bark to invite other people or animals to play.
- Anxiety. Dogs may exhibit barking behavior caused by separation anxiety. Dogs experiencing separation anxiety can't stand being left alone and will bark compulsively when left alone.
- Annoyance. Dogs can bark when they are upset. If your dog is attached, isn't getting his favorite toy, or wants to go and play with the neighbor's dog, he's likely to bark to show that he's upset. Dogs can also bark when they are bored or bored.
Step 2. Read your dog's body language
Barking indicates the emotional state of your dog. By reading his body language, you can see clues as to how your dog is feeling. For example, when your dog is frightened, he will bark and crouch down. Once you know the cause of the barking, you can help calm your dog. Below are some signs that are associated with varying dog moods:
- Afraid. When a dog is afraid, he can make his body appear smaller than the source of his fear. Usually the dog will crouch down, stick his tail in, and make his ears droop and stick tightly to his head. Dogs can also yawn or lick their lips to calm themselves.
- Happiness. When the dog is happy, his body muscles become weak. His mouth is usually open and looks like he is smiling. The dog may also appear to be panting. The ears and tail are in a natural position, with the tail swaying in a circular motion.
- Precautions. Dogs feel alert when they perceive something as a threat. His ears are raised and tense, and his eyes will stare intently at the object he sees (and he perceives as a threat). The tail may be erect or curled up on the back, although usually the tail is just tense. The hair on the shoulders and upper back is usually raised.
- Cheerfulness and desire to play. Dogs that want to play usually move to and fro. Dogs become very energetic and move like jumping up and down. Dogs can also jump, run around, or bend down to invite you to play. In addition, when he feels cheerful and wants to play he looks like he is smiling.
- Domination. Dogs who feel confident when interacting will display assertive body language. Usually, the dog will stand up straight, tilt its neck, and appear a little tense. The tail is usually erect and stiff. He will also make eye contact with the object.
- Aggressive behavior. A dog who feels confident and aggressive in a situation will make himself appear bigger by raising and straightening his tail, tensing his ears, and lifting his head. Dogs may also attack or look like they are ready to lunge. His lips are often pulled back so that his teeth are visible, although dogs sometimes pout their lips too. Aggressive dogs who are feeling defensive often exhibit a combination of body language that reflects fear and confidence.
Step 3. Listen to your dog's bark
There's a lot you can tell from a bark based on its sound. Several studies have shown that humans are quite careful in interpreting the overall emotion described by the tone of a dog's bark.
- Happy barks usually have a high pitch. Meanwhile, barking as a greeting can include other sounds, such as a whimper or a roar.
- Barks for attention are usually short and focused.
- Low-pitched or harsh barks usually signal some kind of agitation, such as fear or alertness.
- Barking caused by separation anxiety is often high-pitched. The barking sounded resigned and pitiful.
- Compulsive barking is often monotonous. This barking sounds repetitive and is often followed by compulsive movements.
Method 2 of 4: Eliminating Reinforcement Barking Behavior
Step 1. Don't talk or show your dog when he barks
This kind of reaction is actually considered as attention given to him for barking and needs to be avoided. Screaming by yelling at your dog is also considered ineffective. Therefore, try to ignore the barking that he shows.
- Giving the command “Shut up!” is actually counter-effective.
- In some cases, spraying your dog with water can be an effective and harmless way to stop his barking. However, sometimes dogs think of the water spray as a game, rather than a distraction, so you need to find out if this is an effective way to stop your dog's barking.
Step 2. Take back the treat for your dog when he starts barking
Of course, you shouldn't give a reward when your dog exhibits a behavior that you want to prevent, as rewarding only reinforces the behavior. For example, if your dog barks for attention and you respond by giving attention, you are rewarding him for the behavior you really want to prevent.
- Ignore your dog when he starts barking for attention. This can be difficult to do, as is the case when you ignore a crying baby, but to prevent your dog from getting confused, it's important that you don't give him attention when he asks for it.
- Don't give attention in the form of stares, caresses, or words when your dog barks for it. If you can, turn around to face him. This shows him that you don't like his behavior. Eventually, your dog will stop barking and act calmer.
- When he stops barking, give him praise and treats. As he begins to understand your rules, train him to remain calm for a longer period of time before you give him a treat.
Step 3. Cover your dog's mouth
If your dog won't bite, it's a good idea to cover his mouth if he starts barking and bothering you. This is physical reinforcement that shows that you don't like his barking behavior.
There are leash or restraint products that allow you to gently close your dog's mouth when you take him for a walk
Step 4. Take control of the surrounding environment
If possible, keep your dog away from anything that triggers his barking behavior. Close curtains or blinds if your dog frequently barks at people he sees passing through the house. Leave your dog in a certain room if he often barks at guests who come.
- Territory barking can be handled by changing what your dog can see. Try to calm your dog and prevent his barking behavior by installing a wooden fence (not the usual chain link fence) or coating the window panes with opaque paper (to keep light in).
- If your dog is often startled by strange noises, turn on a white noise-generating machine (a combination of sounds of various frequencies) or leave the fan running when you're not at home. This can help distract your dog from other noises he hears.
Step 5. Socialize your dog
If your dog barks a lot whenever he sees another dog or other person, he's probably not socializing enough. Show good behavior when you take him to the dog park, for walks around the house, and when interacting with other people. This shows him (especially if he often protects his territory) that he doesn't need to bark just to protect his territory, wherever he goes.
You can also take him to a dog daycare. There, he can play with other dogs and learn good dog behavior
Method 3 of 4: Reinforcing Good Behavior
Step 1. Give your dog a chance to be active
Sometimes dogs bark because they are annoyed or bored. If your dog isn't getting enough exercise, he's probably barking because he's storing up too much energy. Therefore, make sure your dog gets enough exercise and play to reduce the problem of unwanted barking behavior.
If your dog is bored, make sure he has plenty of toys. Giving puzzle toys, especially ones you can include with a meal or treat, can be a great way to keep your dog active and happy
Step 2. Teach your dog other ways to greet others
When they are happy, dogs can bark to greet others. By teaching other forms of greeting, you can reduce the problem of unwanted barking behavior.
- To greet arriving guests, teach your dog to go to a certain place and wait to receive guests. Ask him to sit down and remain calm while you (or someone else) opens the door. Give him praise and rewards if he succeeds in doing so.
- You can also train your dog to look for certain toys near the door when guests arrive. Having a toy in his mouth can prevent him from barking when guests visit.
- Train him to sit quietly before allowing someone else to pet him when you are not at home. This can help reduce the risk of other people getting hurt because your dog is too excited.
- Don't give gifts when your dog barks to greet others by responding. Wait for him to calm down before you say hello and give him a caress or a gift.
Step 3. Teach your dog other ways to communicate
Dogs often bark as a way to show their need. If you can train your dog to communicate or alert you in other ways, he won't have to bark when he needs or wants to tell you something.
- For example, ring the bell every time you take your dog out of the house so he can associate the sound of the bell with going outside. After that, you can train him to ring the bell himself (hotel service bells can be a good choice) when he needs to go outside.
- Hit the water or food bowl before you fill it. In this way, your dog will associate the sound of the food bowl being hit with the filling or addition of food or water so that it can hit its own water or food bowl to signal that it is hungry or thirsty.
Step 4. Give your dog desensitization exercises
Desensitization to triggers for barking behavior can help treat your dog's barking problem. Start by pointing your dog at his barking trigger a distance away enough to prevent him from barking right away. For example, if your dog frequently barks at the neighbor's dog, ask your neighbor to help you in the desensitization process.
- Move the trigger toward your dog, a little at a time. Give him compliments and treats if he can stay calm.
- When the trigger is brought near your dog, give him a treat. If he starts barking, don't give him a treat.
- When the trigger is out of sight of the dog, stop giving your dog treats.
- Start the process slowly. Gradually extend the duration of exposure to anything or anyone that triggers your dog's barking behavior.
- Keep practicing until your dog feels much more comfortable. Be patient. Remember that learning new behaviors takes time, patience, and consistency.
Step 5. Divert your dog's attention
Distractions can help with barking behavior problems because your dog has something else to pay attention to. After you distract him, point out something else he can do, like pick something up or follow a certain command.
- You can blow a high-frequency whistle or start a noise maker to break your dog's concentration when he barks. While he is barking, turn on the noise maker to distract him from focusing.
- You can also make your own (non-verbal) sounds, such as clapping your hands or snapping your fingers. Don't yell or yell at him because your dog will think you're 'barking' at him.
- Once you've got his attention, instruct your dog to do chores that don't involve barking. For example, you can ask him to pick up a toy, enter his cage, or perform certain tricks.
Method 4 of 4: Teaching the Dog the “Silence” Command
Step 1. Take your dog to a quiet room
The use of a quiet room is the right choice for doing exercises. By getting your dog's undivided attention, he can learn new commands more effectively.
Step 2. Choose the command you want to use
Short, easy-to-understand words, such as “Shh!” or “Silence” can be the right choice. Choose appropriate gestures to help reinforce a command, such as placing your finger to your lips or making a fist. Stay consistent and use the same commands and gestures in every exercise.
Step 3. Encourage your dog to bark
As counterintuitive as it sounds, you need to encourage him to bark. This way, you can teach him the new command. You could have someone ring the doorbell, or shake a toy to encourage them to bark.
- Allow your dog to bark two to three times.
- Make sudden gestures or movements to startle your dog and stop barking.
Step 4. Once your dog has calmed down, give him a command
When training him, you shouldn't give him commands while your dog is still barking. Instead, when he has calmed down, give him food as a reward and continuously give the "Shut up" command.
- Don't give him gifts until he's calmed down.
- It's a good idea to gently cover his mouth while repeating the command to be quiet.
Step 5. Keep practicing
Use this command until your dog can calm down when instructed. Remember that learning new behaviors or commands takes time so you need to be patient and give practice consistently.
When he stops barking, be quiet for a few moments then give him a compliment. Also give him a snack and encourage this calm behavior
Tips
- A bored dog will likely bark a lot and exhibit bad behavior. Make sure your dog has lots of fun things to do.
- Be patient. The process of desensitizing a dog to its barking triggers can take a long time.
- Practice as often as possible to improve the results.
- If there are always problems during training, it's a good idea to hire the services of a professional dog trainer.
- Anti-barking leashes are not recommended as they are not effective in dealing with triggers for barking behavior. Shock collars are also not recommended as they can hurt your dog and make him more aggressive. Leashes with lemongrass spray are less likely to hurt your dog, but they can still smell lemongrass when other dogs are barking. This means that your dog will still be 'punished' for something he didn't do so you are advised not to use it.
