Dog Bark Training To Save Your Nerves

Yap! Yap! Yap! Driving you crazy is it? Dogs bark and a little bit is OK. But when it goes on and on and on and ... Something just has to give. It's time for ... dog bark training. Do you ever get mad about all that barking? You know it doesn't do any good to get furious but you do it anyway don't ya? So do you want to stop the barking?

It's going to take some time and effort, but you most probably can control the barking if you really want to. There may be some hard cases who just won't shut up but those are the exception and not the rule. For now, let's just say you can help your dog stop the constant barking.

OK. Why is the dog barking? Calm down and think about it. Is the dog alarmed by something? Scared? How about lonely? Maybe so full of energy he's about to bust. Or maybe just bored and frustrated? Maybe even mad. Or jealous.

Sadly, much barking is just simply boredom and an unfulfilled life. Dogs are social creatures and need much interaction to be happy. In many cases the amount of interaction the dog requires to be happy is much more than the owner requires with the dog. And related to time is exercise. Many dogs have far more energy than owners can imagine. To work off that energy requires some serious hard running and jumping. Without that level of exertion, that dog is a big bundle of pent-up steam which comes out as noise. And in many cases the noise is a call for someone to come play with me.

So can you spend more time with your pet and provide adequate exercise chances? That's a great first step.

Now what if you're being fair with your pet and yet the barking still goes on and on. Who is in charge here? That's a serious question. You know most of the time it's probably the dog. The dog barking is just fine with the dog. No problem to bark all day and night as long as there are no negative consequences. And stepping out the door and screaming "Shut Up!" is not a negative to the dog. Thay wanted to see you anyway. Here's the principle. To train the dog, you must clearly be in charge. The dog must associate certain behavior with negative happenings and other behavior with positive happy times. And the consequences must be clear, quick and certain.

Inappropriate barking met with a swift thump to the nose and a "No" in no uncertain terms will get the dog's attention. Do not hit the dog in a way that would injure, just get the dog's attention. But, you must be consistent. That means every time, something happens when you witness unreasonable barking. Every time. And reward quiet, calm behavior with very small treats. Not too much or you'll get a fat dog. Whatever you do, don't deal with the barking with swift and firm action and turn right around and give treats. How in the world can the dog sort out thumps and dog biscuits within a few seconds of each other?

Now every situation is different, but you must determine why the dog is barking and try to deal with the cause. Than at that point, you must yourself become dominant and set the standards of acceptable behavior. Reward the behavior you seek and deal out gentle, but firm disfavor for unacceptable noise. Your dog will reward you with the calm, quiet disposition you seek.