If you've determined it's time to stop barking dogs at your residence, you will likely already know that there are only so many things that can be done about the dilemma. After all, dogs are born to bark. Regardless of breeding and refinement over the last several millennia, they still possess that urgent need to vocalize their feelings and desires. In truth, there is only one breed of dog - the Basenji - that does not bark at all. So, before you can stop barking dogs, you will need to understand why they bark as well as what forms of barking you may control.

The Causes of Dog Barking

Dogs bark for any variety of factors. They bark when they are annoyed. They bark when they are excited. They even bark when they are scared. Here is a list of when you would possibly expect your pet to crank up barking:

• Territorial Barking

• Alarm Barking

• Attention Seeking Barking

• Greeting Barking

• Frustration Barking

• Compulsive Barking

• Injury or Illness Related Barking

As you can see, barking is a major part of who your pet is. It's impractical to stop barking dogs entirely. They're going to want to express themselves at times, regardless of what you do to inhibit their behaviors.

How to Stop Barking Dogs

When your pet refuses to stop barking, first determine if the behavior is warranted. Nine times out of ten, it's unwarranted and can be prohibited. If you decide that your dog's barking can and should be controlled, ask yourself these questions.

• When does your dog bark?

• What is the dog barking at?

• Does the dog have a unique trigger?

If you determine that the dog is barking because it needs to protect its territory or is solely alarmed by something, you cannot simply shout at your dog to stop. In fact, unconstructive reinforcement for territorial barking can often lead to biting or anger in other forms. Your dog doesn't identify with what you're attempting to tell them. They stop the barking; however the territorial concerns are still there.

Instead, you have to create a condition in which your dog will not sense that territorial urge to defend itself. This starts by taking control of your home. Be the alpha leader of the pack and show the dog that you are the one in control of protecting that space. Secondly, you can simply diminish the dog's ability to determine those incursive dangers to its territory. Draw your blinds so he cannot see the mailman, get an obscure fence so they cannot see outside the backyard, and ensure they don't have open access to the windows at any time.

Stop Barking Dogs with Anxiety

If your dog has anxiety issues, the barking is likely a symptom of something much greater. They need to reach you and will constantly bark in anticipation of you homecoming. Most of the time, it's because you have rewarded them for this behavior in the past. When you return home and they are excited, you immediately give them attention. Instead of rewarding them in this instance, you should pay no attention to your dog for as long as 10-15 minutes so they stop associating your return with attention. In conclusion, to stop barking dogs, you should train your dog how to speak and be quiet. By making a command that enables you to control the behavior, your dog will discover to control the barking when it is not necessary. A benefit of this is that, if there is an intruder or something you want your dog to bark at, they will still alert you.

Dog barking does not have to be the nuisance of your community that it has become. Learn to manage it early on and you'll never need to worry about the neighbors banging down your door every day whenever you get home.