Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Does You Dog Bark Often? Learn How To Control It

By Simone Fitzgerald

It doesn't matter how big your dogs bark is or how old your dog is because no matter what you will see that you must get your dogs bark under control. It is an instinct for a dog to bark, but there are ways that you can get it under control and stop annoying bark behavior.

There are different things to keep in mind when you are working to stop your dogs barking behavior. There are many different methods and you may have to try more than one. It just takes time and work to find what works.

You want to figure out why your dog is barking to begin with. You will find that your dog barks for a reason, but some of those reasons may not be obvious. One of the top reasons for a dog barking is to alert you to something.

Barking for attention is not uncommon, especially for puppies. Dogs bark when they are startled, too. Most often, though, your dog barks because they feel alone or they are bored. A lonely dog barks to get your attention and so he isnt lonely anymore. A bored dog may just bark to release pent up energy.

Do you know what kind of barker your dog is? Has he always had a problem with barking? If you just got an older dog then you need to think about things. Do know that the old saying about not being able to teach an old dog new tricks, is not true. You will have to spend some time, though.

Many people first react by yelling at the dog, but this does not work. When you yell you could startle your dog or even frighten him. He could also think you are playing. Instead choose a word that you want to use as a command to use to stop barking. It should be something that everyone in the family uses. Something like enough or quiet can be a great choice. You can also use a spray bottle to spritz your dog. It can surprise the dog and make the problem work but in many cases it will help the dog associate barking with an unpleasant experience which can work.

Are you spending enough time with your dog? When your dog barks, make sure that you have enough time to spend with him. Don't call him when he is barking, go out to him. Dogs who are happy and secure in their family environment are much less inclined to bark and you'll soon realize that if you can make sure that your dog gets routine interaction with you and your family, he will be much more content. Remember that your dog is a pack animal, and that pack animals tend to be fairly unnerved when they are on their own. It does not feel natural to them, and it makes sense that they would be nervous.

Sometimes you may not be able to find the reason for your dogs barking. It can be helpful to consult with a veterinarian or animal specialist. They can help you to find underlying reasons that may not have been obvious. It is always possible to stop barking, so just be persistent.

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