Of all the bad dog behaviors out there, how to stop dogs from barking has to be one of the most frustrating issues to deal with.

think about it…

If your dog has problems with barking, it is unlikely that you will be able to control his barking. This can lead to your howling that keeps you up at night, your barking interrupting your favorite TV shows, or even your unnecessary barking to wake the kids up from a daytime nap.

Barking is also scary for some people who are not familiar with dogs. And your dog’s constant barking can frighten friends and family visiting your home. This is not fun for anyone.

Or even worse… If your dog’s constant barking continues day in and day out and you live near other people, your neighbors will probably call the police to make the noise.

It’s heartbreaking, but noise disturbances are a huge reason to take dogs out of their loving homes.

Barking can be a huge problem and a  huge frustration for the dog owners I work with.

But here’s the good news. There is no barking problem, no matter how big or small, that can’t be fixed!

Today, I will give you some valuable tips, tools, and resources that you can use to stop your unwanted dog barking behavior starting today.

Let’s start with the basics…

Discover the simplest way to stop any barking without harming your dog or puppy

First of all, we have to determine why your dog is barking, because the solution we use to your dog’s barking problem will not always be the same.

After all, you wouldn’t use the same technique to stop a kid screaming for help as a kid yelling at you for more chocolate, would you?

Look,  the reason your dog barks is because he’s not happy about something.

Why not be happy?

Now, I am going to share with you the 4 most common reasons why dogs and puppies bark.

It’s not an exhaustive list, but most dogs and puppies fall into one of these categories. Once you have decided on the best description for your dog, think of a plan of action to end it for good.

It sounds like a plan?

I should add here that many years ago (when I was new to dog training) I thought that barking could be treated the same way. Now I’m a few years older and wiser, and I can see the error of my ways.

I have realized that it is much easier to stop barking if you first understand correctly why your dog is barking. Then apply the appropriate solution. It makes sense, right?

So here are the top reasons why your dog might bark and how you can start making things better for you and your dog.

1. Barking because your dog wants something

This type of barking occurs when your dog wants something, like an annoying baby.

She is not happy and she tells you that. So, she probably wants to come in, to get you out of the box, to get some food, or she simply wants to get your attention.

Has your dog asked you to hurry up to dinner? yes? Well, this is what I’m talking about.

How does this fit?

Don’t reward bad behavior.

The key here is that you shouldn’t reward bad behavior. For example, if your dog is barking to get in, don’t let him in (I know this is tempting and you don’t want to disturb the neighbors). If you reward her with what she wants, it will happen over and over again.

Think of it as a short term pain for some long term gain!

Wait and ignore the dog until he calms down, then open the door. You will get the message very quickly.

Imagine a child yelling at you to do something… would you just give in to him? No… I hope you wait until you calm down. It’s the same approach.

(Now, if you’re thinking, “Well, that won’t work in our little Rover, because it never gives up,” there are plenty of tips and tricks that will convince even the most lazy dogs that it’s best to keep quiet, which I added in the final.)

2. Barking because your dog thinks he is in danger

This type of barking can occur indoors or outdoors.

However, to keep things simple, let’s imagine it’s an indoor environment. Your dog hears a noise and jumps, then runs toward the window and starts barking at people outside your house.

Of course, your dog could be barking at other dogs, a noise he heard, or something as small as a bird in a tree.

Whatever the case, imagine there is no need for your dog to respond with a bark.

And what we want to communicate to our dogs is… “No need to bark.”

But first, let’s see where it all went wrong! Now what usually happens here is:

Your dog is barking…

You yell at him something (in a very reliable way)… only to find your dog is barking much louder again, and it all starts to escalate!

Eventually you end up yelling and your dog barking at you, “I’m barking as loudly as I can!”

Sound familiar?

How to fix this problem…

Stay calm and check.

What happens is that your dog reflects your energy. So instead of weaning your dog, let’s calm him down.

When you bark, say something like “thank you” in a very gentle voice (as if you were whispering in someone’s ear).

So, if he keeps barking, go look out the window and say “thank you” again very calmly, before leaving. (Now I know it might sound weird, but it makes perfect sense for your dog – I promise!)

What you just did is check for danger (even if it’s just a bird in a tree) and calmly communicate with it using your body language, tone of voice, and energy so you don’t have to worry.

If he continues to bark after doing this, you can take him out quietly for a few minutes.

Of course, with every dog ​​training, the more they notice you, the better! (Something I will explain a little later). So if your dog is not paying attention, we need to take a few steps back and get his focus and attention first!

3. Barking when your dog is left alone

This type of barking is often referred to as “separation anxiety barking” because your dog becomes anxious after a separation.

I should add here that  this stress is not only caused by barking, but can also manifest itself in destructive behaviour, chewing, slashing, running, and excessive digging.

The good news is that the following approach will remove the cause of the problem and with it the stress. Then all these problems will disappear.

Now, I should point out that this barking is not a “mischievous behavior” as many people think, and it has nothing to do with boredom, so wearing a shock collar to try to stop this behavior is a cruel idea. Let me explain.

Imagine that you are sitting at home taking care of your child and suddenly you notice the child on the street! What would you do?

Of course, you will attack her and get her out of there.

But… what if the doors are locked and you can’t get out?

Relax and drink a cup of tea? of course not. You were screaming for help and reconnecting with your child, or trying to break free so you could come back.

This is why your dog feels stressed.

See, when our dogs think they are in charge, responsible for our care, they automatically get nervous when you leave. That’s why this only happens when you’re not there.

Here’s what to do…

Be the group leader.

Now, in this case, I’d like to give you a general idea of ​​what to do and what not to do.

The main thing is to realize that your dog or puppy’s barking has nothing to do with boredom! This means that trying to keep your dog occupied by letting go of the bones, lots of toys stuffed with peanut butter and chewing may not work.

It can make the situation worse, so be sure to eat.

In fact, if the problem is resolved, everyone will say, “Hey, your dog is barking – leave a bone on the floor!”

Instead, I will focus on giving your dog the message that you are the leader of the pack and don’t have to worry about where you are.

Now, one way to do this is to leave the house quietly and then come back quietly and ignore your dog. (I know this may seem a little harsh to some of you and may not be what you want to do, but this tip is all about doing what’s best for your dog and how to stop barking!)

Remember also that they are animals, just as ignoring a cat or goldfish when entering the house will not bother your dog.

In fact, this is one of the best ways to help your dog relax when you are not there.

This gives your dog the message that you are in charge and not him, and as explained above, this will help him stop worrying about you when you are not around. When you’re ready, you can always call your dog, on your terms, for love and a hug.

Now, of course, there is a lot more to becoming a group leader. It is an essential key to owning a happy and obedient dog, which I will get to later.

4. Excessive barking

The fourth type of barking is excessive barking.

The best way to think of it is to imagine some children playing. When children start having fun, they get excited and start screaming and then start screaming excitedly.

It’s not harmful, but it can be really annoying, and that’s definitely something you want to keep.

Now, of course, with the kids, it’s no use yelling at them! And…the same with dogs.

If your barking starts to get out of control while running around the garden while playing, here’s what to do…

Use calm procedures.

First you have to step in and calmly control them without uttering a word, then show calm energy during the silent freeze.

This is how it works…

Freeze Calm:

1. squat;
2. Hold your dog by the leash with a fist under his chin and palms up.
3. Don’t say anything, look away and breathe deeply and slowly.
4. Hold for a few seconds until he calms down.
5. Then edit the comment stop…
6. It will be quieter.