Unwanted barking is a common problem for dog owners and be very frustrating for neighbors.

Before you can stop a dog from barking, you need to understand why the dog is barking.

Your dog has a voice and they use their “voice” to communicate.  Barking is not always a bad thing when your dog is using it to talk to you in appropriate situations.  However, excessive barking, boredom barking, and nuisance barking is not appropriate and can lead to anger and frustration for owners.

Barking can also depend on the breed of your dog.  Guarding breeds such as German Shepherds, Dobermans and Rottweiler’s were bred to bark when there is a threat.  Sporting breeds such as Beagles and Bloodhounds were bred to bark as a tool to assist their owners in seeking a goal.  The toy breeds are examples of a talkative dog who bark just hear themselves talk.

Dogs bark for many different reasons.  Regardless of the breed there are some situations where just about any dog will bark.  Some of these situations are:

• Lonely
• Bored
• Excited
• Anxious/Nervous
• Hungry or they know its meal time
• They want you to play with them
• Something is wrong/someone is near the house
• Need to go potty
• Sees another animal

It is unrealistic to expect that you can train your dog to completely stop barking for all of the above situations.  After all, your dog is a dog and it is their nature to bark at certain times, at certain things, and in certain situations.  A realistic training goal is to curb and control barking when you, the owner, deem it to be un-called for and inappropriate.

Your dog may bark excessively because you unintentionally trained it do so, therefore allowing your dog to manipulate you.  Your dog barks and you obey.  Your dog barks and you open the door to let your dog out. Your dog barks and you open the door to let your dog back in.  Your dog barks and the two of you play.  Your dog barks and you give it a tummy rub.  Your dog has learned to get your attention through barking.  It is easy to fall into this trap and it is just as easy to forget to praise and reward your dog when they are not barking.

Yelling and shouting at your dog to stop barking may be negative attention in your mind but from your dog’s point of view, they have your undivided attention negative or not.

Something else to keep in mind, the more you yell at your dog to stop barking, the more they may bark.  This is because they bark, then you bark (yell), and then they bark.  Your dog thinks that this is great fun that you are choosing to participate in with them.

How do you train to your dog to stop barking? Check out the following article:  Tips To Stop Your Dog From Barking.