Although barking is a normal way of communicating for dogs, when it’s too often and too loud, it can issue, especially with neighbours.
Firstly, you need to understand why your dog is barking excessively.
Certain breeds, like huskies for example, are a lot more vocal than others, depending on what they were bred for.
So, it’s important to do your research before getting a dog, if you’re looking for a less vocal dog.
Important
If your dog continues to bark and the training in this advice doesn’t help, it’s best to contact a dog trainer, like those registered with APDT.
Some dogs bark a lot when they want to let you know something specific is happening. This might be a visitor at the door, a car pulling onto a driveway, a passing dog or cat or the doorbell ringing. This is called ‘alarm barking’.
Some people appreciate this sort of barking- but, if this is something you would like to change, here are some tips:
What to do
Giving your dog something to do instead of barking will help keep their mind occupied.
Play fetch
If your dog likes to play fetch, try teaching them to retrieve a toy or other item when the situation occurs that sets them off.
Go to bed
Asking them to “go to bed” is also something you could try. It removes them from the area that the trigger is coming from and asks them to concentrate on a neutral task that they are already familiar with.
Ensure your dog understands this cue before you begin this training.
Always reward good behaviour with a treat to encourage them to do the good thing again next time you ask.
Desensitising your dog
Record sounds that trigger your dog’s barking, like the doorbell, and play these back to your dog.
Start very quietly at first, ensuring they don’t react and then gradually increase the volume, while rewarding them with food if they don’t bark. This is a process known as desensitising or counter conditioning.
If you do decide to take this approach, you’ll need to make sure you don’t expose your pet to the real sound while you are training them. Pick a time when you aren’t expecting visitors and pop a note on your front door asking visitors not to knock but to phone you instead.
You might even consider disarming the doorbell while you are undertaking this training with your dog.
As dogs are natural predators, many have been bred to hunt small, furry things.
This doesn’t always mean that your dog wants to hurt wildlife. However, it does mean that lots of dogs are excited by seeing them and are likely to chase and bark at cats and birds.
What to do
It can be difficult to change this behaviour because whatever comes into your garden is out of your control.
It’s not ideal for this to become a habit as it can lead to upset neighbours. So, if this is something you want to address, it’s best not to leave your dog in the garden unattended.
Teach your dog to come back to you whenever you call and reward them with a tasty treat and lots of verbal praise.
This type of barking also falls into ‘alarm barking’ and can be a way that your dog tells you that someone is passing your property. It can also be caused by:
What to do
If your dog likes to sit on the windowsill and shout at everyone and everything that passes by, the most practical action is to prevent access to the window.
This could be something as simple as moving furniture or purchasing film for your window glass that prevents them seeing outside.
As dogs are social animals who like to live in family groups, it’s common for them to become upset when they are left on their own for longer than they feel comfortable with.
Dogs often bark or howl when you’re out of the house, and it’s them using their voice to try and reach out to you, so that you’ll come back.
What to do
If your dog barks a lot when left, and you can’t resolve this by following our separation anxiety advice, you may need help from a qualified dog behaviourist to address the problem.
Take a moment to think about how you react when your dog does this. Do you raise your voice, shout or tell them off for it? If so, stop. When you respond to your dog’s barking with noise and attention, you are rewarding your dog by giving them the attention they are asking for.
What to do
Solving attention seeking behaviour is not always simple, and you may need to seek professional help.
Some dogs bark because they may be bored. This can vary depending on their breed. For example, a working dog will have a lot of energy and will be looking for more mental stimulation throughout the day. If you think this is the case, you may need to look at their daily routine. Increasing their physical and mental exercise can help to occupy their busy minds.
What to do
If ‘free time’ is a large chunk of your dog’s day, it might be a good idea to:
This is usually caused by one of the following:
What to do
You’ll need to get professional help for this behaviour, as it’s likely to worsen the longer it goes on. It can make what should be a fun dog walk very stressful for both of you.
It’s important to start by setting yourself a realistic goal. Planning for your dog to stop barking completely is not realistic. Barking is a natural dog behaviour and dogs will bark whether we want it or not. You can reduce the amount of barking but stopping it entirely will never be possible.
None of these reasons fit. Why won’t my dog stop barking?
If you’re struggling to understand why your dog is barking and the above advice has not helped, don’t panic.
The reason a dog barks is not always straightforward. Your vet or a trainer such as those listed on www.APDT.ie will be able to help you and your pet.
There are multiple ‘tools’ on the market offering a quick fix for barking. These have been shown not to work and are detrimental to your dog’s well-being. The Irish Blue Cross do not condone the use of any of these devices and advocates for owners to use positive reinforcement, distraction methods and professional advice to help identify why your dog barks at certain cues.
While some of them might work in the short-term, this is only because it stops your dog from barking while the device is being used. They do little to address the reason behind the barking. So, they do not solve the real issue.
They can also do more harm than good by causing your dog unnecessary stress and even pain. Using devices that punish pets will likely damage the bond between you and can lead to further behaviour problems.
