Barking is a natural way for dogs to communicate and can be caused by a variety of reasons such as anxiety, territorial defense, play or attention. But what to do if your dog barks too much? You won’t be able to completely wean him off this, but it is possible to reduce the intensity and control the barking. What is needed for this?
1. Find out the reason for barking
Observe your dog's behavior and try to determine why he is barking. This will help you take appropriate action to resolve the problem.
If your dog is barking because of anxiety or because of passersby, you can change the environment or limit access to those situations that cause agitation and barking. For example, you can install curtains or use soundproofing materials on windows to reduce your dog's reaction to passersby.
2. Be calm
When a dog starts to really go crazy with his barking, the first thing the owner wants to do is shout at him to calm down. But according to experts, this is the exact opposite of what you should do.
3. Teach the command «Quiet» and «Stop»
Teaching these commands helps control barking. Use positive reinforcement to reward your dog when he calms down after a command.
4. Tire your dog out
It has been proven that exercise can curb barking. After all, a tired dog will not waste his last energy on this. So make sure your dog is getting the physical and mental exercise they need, whether it’s regular walks, trips to the dog park, games of fetch in the backyard or whatever your dog’s favorite pastime is.
5. Ignore it
This doesn't work for every dog, but if your dog won't stop barking, and you're pretty sure he just wants attention, try ignoring him. Sometimes dogs calm down on their own without receiving any feedback from the owner.
6. Mask the sounds
Often dogs bark for a reason, but they do it in response to the sounds they hear. The solution to this problem is simple — mask the noise with other sounds. For example, you can turn on the radio or TV in the apartment so that your pet does not hear sounds coming from the neighbors.
