- Dogs bark to express their emotions
- Knowing the cause of your dog’s barking goes a long way in stopping it
- It may take some time to teach your dog to stop barking
Most people accommodate a barking dog when it doesn’t last too long, say when its owner first returns home or someone knocks at the door. But if that barking carries on for more than a few minutes, it can become quite a nuisance.
Dog owners know this and, thankfully, often have several tricks up their sleeves to get their dogs to settle down. However, even the most well-behaved dogs may not respond to the first commands to quiet down. Here are some ways for how to stop a dog from barking.
Why do dogs bark?
Not surprisingly, dogs use barking as a form of communication not only with other dogs but also with us humans. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), dogs bark when they’re excited, frightened, lonely, surprised, irritated or feeling other emotions. The AKC also says dogs have different barks for different moods. For instance, a high-pitched bark can indicate excitement when playing fetch, while a lower-pitch bark could serve as a warning to a stranger.
In addition, the number of barks helps to determine the cause of the bark. For example, if your dog emits a long string of barks, the AKC says that could indicate the dog is more worked up, such as when someone is trying to get in the front door. The length of the pause between barks also can indicate the dog’s mood, such as a long pause after an “I’m lonely” bark.
Tips on how to stop a dog from barking
Tuning in to your pet’s barks can help you identify how to get your dog to stop barking in your apartment:
1. Use the “Quiet” command
A tried-and-true approach to stop your dog barking is to tell them to quiet down. However, there’s a right and wrong way to do this. Don’t yell at your dog to quiet. Your dog may see this as your way of “barking” or communicating back, which could lead to more barking.
Instead, use a calm, firm voice and simply state, “Quiet.” When you do this and your dog responds by being quiet, reward him with a treat and some affection. It may take several tries using this technique for your dog to recognize the “Quiet” command, but consistent training usually leads to results.
2. Ignore the barking
Dogs often bark to get their owners’ attention, so don’t reward them by responding to their barking. This includes not only talking, but also touching or looking at them. When they do quiet down, reward them for being quiet.
3. Hide distractions
If your dog barks anytime someone or an animal passes by your windows, close the curtains. Taking away the reason for barking is very effective in silencing your dog.
4. Familiarize your dog with everyday situations and people
It’s important for dogs to get to know people and experiences so they don’t see everyone or every situation as a potential threat. Therefore, when you’re out with your dog, let him interact with others interested in him. This includes everyone from kids to adults, people on bikes or scooters to someone in a wheelchair and even delivery folks like the mailman or pizza delivery person. Letting your dog see and interact with these folks makes him less likely to feel apprehensive or threatened, meaning he’ll bark less.
5. Teach your dog to accept what’s causing them to bark
If your dog gets used to what causes them to bark, it removes the reason for barking. For instance, if someone knocks on your door, you don’t want your dog to bark every time, right? So, teach your dog to ignore knocking. Have a friend stand outside your door, knock once, wait for a beat and then knock again. At the first knock, start giving your dog some treats. Once the knocking stops, stop giving treats to your dog. You’ll need to repeat this process multiple times before your dog equates not barking to the knocking. It’s not unlike developing a new habit. You have to repeat it consistently for it to become a new habit.
6. Try behavior modification
Another technique is to change their behavior. For example, if your dog starts to bark, tell them to lie down in their crate. Again, this is a behavior you’ll need to teach and it will require multiple tries. You can start with one barking situation and go from there.
Say your dog barks if someone is at the door. Put a treat in their crate and tell them to go get in their crate and lie down. If they get up when you open the door, close it again. Keep practicing this until they remain in their crate when you open the door.
7. Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise
When humans get tired, we don’t usually exert as much energy as when we’re rested. Dogs are no different. Walking and playing with your dog not only ensures they get plenty of physical exercise, but it also takes away their desire to bark when they’re bored. How much exercise your dog requires depends on the breed, age, size and health of your dog. If you aren’t sure, talk with your veterinarian.
8. Sign up for dog obedience training
If the previous methods have no effect on how to get a dog to stop barking, it’s time to enlist professional help. Enroll your dog in an obedience class or hire a certified professional dog trainer. Their knowledge and experience could be worth the cost and time to save you a lot of frustration.
You can help your dog stop barking
Dogs bark and often for good reason. However, when living in an apartment, a barking dog is not always a good neighbor. Put some of these techniques into practice to effectively teach your dog there’s a proper place and time for barking. It also could ensure you have a good relationship with your neighbors and, possibly, your landlord.
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