Yelling Does Not Work Because Dogs Love It!

One mistake that many owners make is to yell “Quiet!” at the dog when it is barking. This often results in the dog barking even more! This is because hunting dogs bark to communicate a number of different things, and when you scream at the top of your lungs at them, they think you’re just joining the chorus. Dogs simply cannot understand what human words mean, however there are several methods that are far more effective at stopping dog barking.

Consider the reasons why your dog is barking. Understanding the root cause of barking will help you stop the behavior. There are a variety of reasons why dogs bark. They are usually attempting to communicate a particular emotion or response. Here are the most common reasons why dogs bark:

Try to pinpoint the reasons why the dog is barking so much. Keep it out of the circumstances that are causing barking. Controlling a dog’s environment is almost as important as controlling the dog itself.

Positive reinforcement, or rewarding good behavior, has been shown to be much more effective than shock collars. Shock collars instill can instill fear and anxiety in a dog, especially when they deliver a strong and painful shock. Rewarding a dog with food or a treat immediately after it stops barking on the calm but stern command “Quiet” is one common form of positive reinforcement. The dog will learn to associate the word “Quiet” with not barking if this is done repeatedly. Also, be sure to say the word “Good!” immediately after it stops barking in a higher pitched and friendly tone.

Citronella collars are a more humane type of dog behavior control collar that spray a harmless scent that dogs do not like. Although this is a form of negative reinforcement, the benefit is that it is not painful for the dog.

Never pet or reward a dog for barking. This is a sure way to eliminate all the work you put towards controlling its barking. If anything, take a toy or your own attention away from the dog when it barks. Barking in the vast majority of cases is an undesirable behavior, and it must be consistently reinforced this way.

Exercise has been shown to reduce barking behavior. In many cases dogs bark simply because they have so much pent up energy. A long walk every day might be more effective than anything else at reducing barking.

Avoid leaving your dog alone for long periods of time, as this creates separation anxiety and can cause your dog to start learning barking behaviors. Often dogs will bark while their owners are away out of anxiety and attention seeking.

Similarly do not leave your dog outside for a long period of time, as dogs outside will start to bark simply because they hear other dogs barking or because they want to come indoors.

Learn More About Training Your Dog Not To Bark