Did you just get a new dog? Maybe you got it from a shelter? He was so cute when you picked him out of all the other dogs. He seemed so shy and friendly. He behaved very well. But then you bring him home and realize that your new dog loves to hear the sound of his voice. How do you know this? Well, because at 3:00 am that first night you received a visit from your next door neighbor who told you this. But, you already knew because you had spent the last four hours trying to figure out how to make it stop the incessant noise. Well, don’t send it packing yet. I have some great tips on how to stop this bad habit that his new dog has already established long before he brought it into his home.
The dogs will bark. That’s what they do instinctively. They will bark for various reasons. If he’s barking at night when everyone else is asleep, chances are he’s where he doesn’t want to be and wants to be where you are. Dogs are human animals and enjoy being around you all the time. It makes them feel safe and calm. Some breeds need more attention than others, so this is something worth looking into before getting your dog. But since you already have it and now you just need a solution to the problem, this is where I come in.
Although barking is a natural instinct, you can teach your dog the right time to flex his vocal chords. The times you would like him to bark are to alert you to a situation like a fire or a stranger at the door or on his property. Those are situations where a barking dog is welcome to bark. But it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to bark every time you walk in and out of a room. That would be downright annoying. So how do you go about teaching him when it’s the right time to bark and when it’s not?
Before you go and banish your dog to the bathroom or garage, know that there are some very real reasons why your dog barks.
1. Separation Anxiety – When you first brought your new dog home, you probably spent a great deal of time with him to help him feel comfortable and secure in his new home. Leaving him for an extended period of time, like going to work eight hours a day and leaving him alone, could make him feel lost and unloved. Like a child who spends a lot of time with mom, the first few times you’re gone can be hard to deal with. Barking may be his way of coping.
2. Attention seeking: Dogs love attention and some more than others. When they attract attention, they are fine. When they don’t, they will tell you through barking or other destructive methods that you wish they would just bark.
3. Noises: Dogs can hear noises from far away and any noise can easily distract them. These noises can provoke a barking response, such as a doorbell, an open door; a noise on tv like another dog barking, sometimes another dog barking in the house will make everyone bark.
So now that you can learn the reasons behind their barking, you can use this knowledge to help you determine the solution.
o Give him plenty of exercise. Take him for a long walk before he plans to leave the house and you’ll get him out. It can even sleep while you’re away.
o Practice leaving the house before the actual event occurs. Grab your keys and give yourself a few minutes. Once your dog realizes you’re gone, he may bark. If he does, he comes back in, order him to shut up. Repeat the exercise until your dog understands that you will return.
o Keep your dog on a leash prior to the event that triggers the barking. When he starts barking at the doorbell or to get attention, pull on the leash and give him the command to shut up and stay still.
Are you getting barking complaints? Before you pull out your hair or your dog’s hair, try these tips first.