How to Control a Barking Dog

A dog that constantly barks can be extremely annoying - both for you and for your neighbors. All dogs bark, but when it reaches a certain stage, you need to stop dog barking before it becomes a real problem. There are a number of ways you can do this. You can buy special products that cause unpleasantness for the dog when it barks - such as dog bark collars.

You can spend some time with your dog, teaching it not to bark at inappropriate times and praising it for good barking behavior. Or you can hire a special trainer who can help you control dog barking.

A barking dog does not always signify a dog barking problem. There are times when we actually want our dogs to bark - such as when an intruder enters the premises or when the family is in danger. In fact, many dogs are bred to bark in different situations in order to serve as a type of alarm.

One of the other reasons a dog barks is to communicate. A dog may bark when it wants to go outside or when it is excited because it senses it is going for a walk. It may also bark because it is cold, hungry, bored, anxious or excited. A dog may bark when it sees other dogs. There are many different types of barking that do not pose a problem - and may actually help their owners. Before seeking to stop dog barking, you should think about whether your dog may be trying to tell you something when it barks.

When Barking Becomes a Problem

Most owners will be prepared to accept some level of barking from their dogs. The time when this barking becomes a problem will differ depending on your circumstances. A person with a small baby or who lives in an apartment will probably hope to minimize barking as much as possible. Someone who has their dog primarily as a guard dog will be prepared - and may even welcome - a fair amount of barking. Different people will have different ideas about what constitutes a dog barking problem.

Some times when owners will wish to control dog barking may include:

When it wakes the family in the middle of the night
When it annoys the neighbors
When it interrupts the family
When it breaks dog barking ordinances
When the dog seems to bark for no reason
When the dog barks at "intruders," even when these people are nowhere near the premises
When the dog barks at welcomed visitors
When the dog wakes a sleeping baby or sick family member

Dogs do not bark excessively simply to annoy people. When dogs bark, they do not understand that they may be causing a problem. They are barking for a reason, and it is up to the owner to try and understand that reason so that the behavior can be controlled. Here are some of the reasons why a dog may bark excessively:

They have not yet learned what is an acceptable amount of barking
They are anxious or bored
They have been trained to bark and believe they are doing what is required of them
They are trying to communicate with their owners and the message is not getting through
There is something causing them discomfort or fear

Continue to: The Best Methods to Follow to Control Dog Barking