Tips to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

Why do some dogs insist on continual barking? Let's explore some of the personality traits of different dogs and what may be making them bark. It is not so far fetched to think if you understand the underlying cause of what causes the barking, that you can take action to correct the situation to make it more tolerable.

Dogs just like people need to have a purpose to fulfill each and every day. We have two dogs that are fortuitous enough to have us home with them all day. Even though we work out of our home, we all still make time periodically during the day for a few ball game sessions and they absolutely love it. Not to mention we get to stretch our legs and clear our minds with the interaction of our pets.

Certain dog breeds can become barkers, simply because they have been bred to perform a function and if they are not kept busy doing something it can lead to barking. Some of the dog breeds that require some special attention would be Collies, Pointers, Setters and Retrievers.

Sometimes a bored and under exercised dog can become a problem and will become a real barker. One idea you can try is to leave yourself a few extra minutes before leaving for work to play with your dog in the back yard. Toss him several tennis balls and throw the Frisbee, if that is what he likes to play with. Some people are lucky to work pretty close to where they live. Why not get out of that stuffy cafeteria at work and run home to your dog, where you can check on him. He might even start expecting you at lunch time!

Another interesting breeding job comes into play with smaller breeds. Many breeds such as Schnauzers, Terriers, and Poodles, were originally bread to set off an alarm to farmers if anything was amiss on the farm. That is great, because they were performing their job. However, today it can become quite annoying for them to sound off at every small noise, such as the neighbor pulling into his driveway or even the telephone ringing. You must work with the dog and gently cover his nose with your hand when he starts this behavior and tell him to be quiet.

Some dogs become very territorial of their yards. Usually they tend to be un-neutered males. Plus some dogs have been breed to perform as guard dogs and securing your yard is their job. Many times just getting the dog neutered can resolve the barking that occurs every time someone passes by. To alleviate this problem, you may have to block him into only certain portions of the yard, where he will not have access to see outside activity that causes him to bark.

Another personality trait that can cause some dogs to be heavy barkers, is the poor animals that have been traded from house to house and various shelters. They never really receive proper socialization skills and they can become slightly neurotic with anxiety problems, because they never really belong. However with a lot of love and obedience practice, these dogs can be made to settle down.

You can set up a routine that you perform before leaving the house, to help alleviate anxiety for your pet. Close blinds and curtains to make it darker and quieter in your home. If the normal routine in your home is to have a TV or radio on, leave it on for your dog, when you are gone. This background noise is what is familiar to him and should be maintained even, when you are not home. A special treat that is given routinely to your dog only when you are about to leave the house, can be a good distraction to your exiting. Hard work, patience and much love will pay off!