What Can You Do About Excessive Dog Barking?

Although you love your dog, sometimes they can get on your nerves when they bark too much. All the noise can really irritate your neighbors too. You should know that there are many reasons why dogs bark. Only after learning why your dog is barking so much can you begin to do something about it.

Attention

One of the main reasons for excessive dog barking is for attention. Canines love their family members and want to spend a lot of time with them. If you don't give your dog enough attention, he may start barking too much in an effort to get it.

Owners need to be careful when dealing with this type of barking. If you do anything to respond to your dog, then he will learn that barking gets your attention, and will continue to do it excessively. Your dog won't care if you give him positive or negative reinforcement, just as long as you do something. Giving him a treat or telling him to be quiet are forms of attention.

Boredom

Sometimes, dogs simply have nothing else to do and decide to bark to pass the time. Leaving your pet alone for long periods of time with nothing to do can easily lead to this behavior. The best way to prevent this type of barking is to provide your dog with toys, puzzles, or other objects to occupy his time. Ensuring he gets enough exercise will also leave him with less energy to expend barking.

Separation Anxiety

Dogs have feelings too, and can easily become anxious when their owners are away. Consulting a behaviorist or trainer is the best way to deal with this problem. One thing you can do is to work on getting your dog used to being alone. Leave him alone for a short period of time, then return and assure him that everything is fine. The next time you leave, stay gone for a little bit longer.

Communication

Dogs are very social animals. Sometimes, your dog will start barking excessively because other dogs are barking. You may notice that your dog will start barking when a canine down the street does so. This is their way of identifying with each other. If you have multiple dogs in your household, then you may deal with this type of barking more often than you'd like.

So, what exactly can you do about excessive dog barking? Most importantly, you will need to understand exactly why your dog is acting the way he is. If you are unable to do so by yourself, don't be afraid to ask for help. That's the reason why behaviorists and trainers exist in the first place. Above all, make sure that you're patient with your dog. Getting irritated and lashing out at him certainly won't make matters any better.

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