Nuisance barking can be a really difficult behavior to live with. It can even channel into noise complaints from neighbours and become a really stressful thing to navigate.
Dogs will always bark, it’s literally in their very nature but the barking has to managed and controllable to a degree.
To do this, you firstly need to identify why your dog is barking.
It could be a variety of different reasons, such as ;
1. Boredom- many dog breeds were bred for a specific purpose or to bark and react to specific stimulus, have a look at our blog posts on enrichment to find out how to break up your pup’s boredom.
2. Stress or anxiety – particularly if your dogs barks when out on a walk at people or dogs etc.
3. Barking for attention – if they have learnt barking gets them instant attention from everyone.
4. Overexcitable behavior – if they bark when you produce their leash or when guests enter, possibly.
5. Territorial/alarm
6. Pain or discomfort
7. Certain noises or smells
8. Medical conditions – work with a reputable vet or behavior specialist to rule this out.
Once you’ve identified the reason your dog is barking, it’s important to train them accordingly. For example, if you’ve figured out that they are barking for attention, you want to ignore it. But you don’t want to ignore it if you suspect there’s a medical issue. Continuing to train your dog over time and being consistent with your behavioral response should fix the issue. Like any behavior modification training, progress can be slow but consistency and understanding will see small progresses over time and see an overall huge improvement in your dog’s behavior.
Training with techniques using positive reinforcement is the only way to train a dog to stop nuisance barking. Any suggestions of a electrical or shock collar will, without doubt, cause long lasting emotional and psychological damage to your dog. They can sometimes be perceived as “working” as a sudden shock may cause your dog to temporarily stop barking but, as with any living being, living with the constant perception and threat of pain or a loud, sudden noise will increase stress and anxiety in your dog and consequently cause far worse behavioral issues.
Positive reinforcement when applied consistently is a successful training technique with dogs. It can be helpful when you’re trying to get your dog to stop barking. Start by rewarding snd praising your dog for doing anything other than barking when they sit, have a quiet moment, lie down or look at you so they can start building the association of “treats and good stuff happens when they I do this”. During a barking moment, if you struggle to get their attention, toss some food rewards on the ground and when they go to sniff or eat treats, say “yes!” And follow with more treats. You can also apply a command or cue word like “quiet” while rewarding. When your dog is exhibiting the behavior that you desire (i.e., they stop barking when you cue them or they refrain from barking when they normally would), reward it with their favorite treat. Over time, they will learn that not barking is better. Then, you get the all-important “look” or refocus to you when something they would usually bark at happens and they instead have formed the new habit of coming to you for the good stuff instead. Reward these moments, too. What’s rewarded gets repeated so the barking habit ceases over time and you can drop the food reward.
When should I seek professional help for my dog’s barking?
If you are having a hard time particularly with your dog around other dogs or strangers, you should get the help of a positive reinforcement certified dog trainer or behavior consultant.
How can I discourage nighttime barking?
Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise during the day. Ensure they have a comfortable place to rest, you can try a calming activity like chewing or licking to help them settle or playing dog soothing sounds at night, as well, to help drown out other noises.
