How to stop a dog from barking at home and on the street: training secrets and methods

Barking for a dog is a means of communication with the owner, with the outside world, with dogs and other animals. But such communication, of course, must fit into the living conditions next to the person - no one will be happy about barking at 4 a.m. or howling at the moon at midnight. How to deal with an overly sociable dog? First you need to find out the reasons for barking.

Reasons for a dog's constant barking

There can be many reasons for a dog barking - the range of emotions and feelings in a dog is extensive:

The dog may bark out of fear. A large dog will not bark in vain at a stranger; it will tolerate the stranger’s antics until the last moment, without betraying its emotions in any way. But a small dog barks loudly at the first appearance of an unknown creature - this is how fear manifests itself. This is a normal reaction to an unclear stimulus: in this way the dog warns that it is serious and it is better not to touch it. This is where tactics work to prevent an attack.
A dog, an adult or a puppy, can bark out of resentment - when the owner leaves, the pet communicates that he feels bad and that he is waiting and offended.
Barking as a manifestation of restless behavior. Unknown sounds, objects or creatures arouse not only interest in the dog, but also concern for the safety of itself and the owner.
When a dog is left alone, barking can be triggered by boredom. If a person, left alone, can occupy himself, then the dog has nothing left but barking or damaging pieces of furniture and shoes.
The cause of excitement can be not only stress , but also joy - for example, the joy of meeting the owner or any other object or person pleasant to the dog.
The reason for barking is often aggression - before attacking, the dog warns by barking or growling.
A dog, as a highly social creature , may experience a feeling of jealousy when the owner shows excessive, from the pet’s point of view, attention to another animal.
Growling or howling may be a result of painful sensations. A dog may growl, whine or howl when a painful part of the body is touched or simply feels painful.

It happens that a dog may bark for no reason. This way the pet can signal that it wants to go to the toilet or that the water in the bowl has run out and the dog is thirsty.

Dog barks at home

Before you begin to correct the dog's behavior, you need to determine the cause of the excitement.

Training with a dog should begin from the first day it arrives in the house. Raising, training or correcting a dog’s already established behavior must be systematic: you cannot first prohibit some behavior and then allow it. If you scold a dog for barking when an intercom or telephone rings, but praise and reward it for barking at any sounds outside the door, the dog will not understand what they want from it and the behavior may worsen.

To train a dog to stop barking and jumping for joy at the sight of a person, you need to:

Show calm and not react to your pet’s violent reaction. If this does not help, you need to gently push the dog away from you or go into another room.
When your pet calms down, you can call him or approach him and pet him . If the dog starts barking and jumping excitedly again, suddenly stop petting or playing with the pet. The main thing here is to be systematic so that the dog understands that only if it is calm will it receive affection or play from a person.

What to do if your dog barks when left alone

Here you will have to show a little more patience and endurance. So, the actions of the dog owner should be as follows:

Leave the room, leaving the dog alone in the room, note the time when the dog begins to show anxiety and bark (let this be approximately 15 minutes). A little later, repeat again - go out and leave the dog alone in the room. But go inside 10-20 seconds before the dog starts barking (i.e. 20 seconds before 15 minutes have passed). Carry out all these maneuvers until the dog sits quietly for an hour or more.
Train the dog in exactly the same way, only this time leaving the apartment on the playground, leaving the dog alone in the apartment.
When the dog has mastered the staircase stage well, you need to leave the entrance - the fact is that the pet very well senses the presence of the owner even in the entrance.

Of course, these trainings must be constant and after 3-5 weeks the dog will get used to being alone. You need to remember that the dog needs a good walk - if the dog is tired from a walk, he is unlikely to be interested in the activity outside the door.

If your dog is barking out of boredom when leaving home, be sure to leave a toy for the dog to have something to do while he waits for his owner.

What to do if your dog barks at everyone

First of all, you need to remember that there is no need to scold, hiss or shout at a dog when it barks excitedly - such behavior can only be achieved by exciting the dog even more.

You can teach your dog to follow the command “Quiet!” When the dog starts barking, calmly and loudly say “Quiet!”, offering a toy. When the dog stops barking and is distracted by the game, you can additionally reward it with a treat. In general, the game is a reinforcement of correct behavior, but it is better that the team is associated with maximum pleasure.

It happens that the dog does not respond to games, then you can act more harshly - when the dog starts barking, after the command “Quiet!” Squeeze your jaw slightly until the dog calms down. As soon as the dog is silent, immediately praise and give a treat. Over time, following the command will become a reflex, and the dog will obediently remain silent.

A good way to stop barking is to use a distraction - switch your pet's attention to a toy or treat.

Another method to stop unwanted behavior is to, at a moment of extreme excitement, grab the dog by the base of the ears, lightly squeeze and “rub.” When the dog stops barking, praise and offer a treat.

What to do?

When a dog barks at night every day, it is very annoying. And the problem must be solved. You can simply say "Ew" or "Quiet." This might work.

Barking at other dogs and passers-by

Uncontrollable barking may be a sign that your dog is under-socialized. The dog must be accustomed to various stimuli from puppyhood - the puppy must meet other dogs, cats, people, ride public transport and not be afraid of the street.

When time is lost and the dog has grown, it will become much more difficult to correct behavior. Such a dog needs to further strengthen its nervous system by gently introducing it to the street and society.
Such a pet needs long walks, it is advisable to choose places with a lot of people and other animals, allow other people to talk and pet the pet, and offer treats by hand.
It is advisable to introduce the dog to its relatives. If the dog shows aggression, acquaintances with both humans and other dogs must be strictly muzzled.

Switching attention

A dog often barks when something irritates him. This could be a guest coming to a party, a random passer-by on the street, or a neighbor's dog. To calm her down, you need to switch her attention from the source of irritation.

The first thing that will help is a light slap on the rump or a flick on the muzzle.
You can pull the leash. You just need to do it sharply.
Use the basic commands “Sit”, “Come to me”, “Fu”, “Lie down”.
Perform an ear massage. For this to work, the pet must enjoy this procedure. They get used to it in advance and use it at the right time.
Water is splashed on the face.

Behavior correction: basic methods of education

Correcting the behavior of an adult dog is not only more difficult than training a puppy, but can also take much longer. The main thing to remember when raising a dog is systematic training and patience.

If the methods of behavior correction described earlier did not produce results, then, after mandatory consultation with a veterinarian and dog handler, you can move on to more radical methods of behavior correction.

Additional methods

Such methods include food additives impregnated with various drugs, castration (sterilization), sedatives, corrective collars or cutting of vocal cords.

Any food additives, whether drops or tablets, must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Corrective collars - electric shock, ultrasonic or spray - can be used after consultation with a dog trainer.
The most radical methods of behavior correction - sterilization and cutting of vocal cords - are carried out only in a veterinary clinic and under general anesthesia.

Sedatives

Sedatives include various drops and herbal infusions, tablets and capsules.

Nutritional supplements consist of herbal infusions and can be used over long courses, but always after consultation with a veterinarian - each drug is individual and the body reacts differently in different dogs.
All sedatives - supplements and medications - have a sedative effect.

Separate from everything else are collars soaked in concentrated sedatives. The principles of aromatherapy apply here - when the dog is in a calm environment, the collar must be removed so that the dog can enjoy a walk and run around.

Anti-bark collars

Corrective collars can have several options:

Electronic collars. When the vocal cords are vibrated, the collar shoots out a small but sensitive and unpleasant shock. In order for a shock collar to be effective, it is important to put it on correctly - the electrodes on the box must fit tightly to the dog's skin. If you do not remove the fur, the dog will faintly feel the shock and this will only make him even more angry.
Ultrasonic collar. It operates on the same principle as an electric shock collar - when the ligaments vibrate, the collar produces impulses, only not of current, but in the ultrasonic range.
Spray collar. Also, when the ligaments vibrate, it releases aromatic compounds. Such a collar is harmless to the dog’s health, but the smell is unpleasant for the pet - most often such collars contain citrus aromas, sharp and strong.

Vocal cord cutting

The most radical way to get rid of barking is surgery. Cutting the vocal cords is a serious surgical procedure that often leads to complications and even death of the dog. Incorrectly or inaccurately performed surgery can lead to swelling of the larynx, as a result of which the dog will not be able to breathe.

In addition to the most terrible outcome - death, cutting the ligaments can lead to disability of the dog, since swelling of the larynx can cause breathing problems.
Such an operation, of course, will solve a “loud” problem, but it can lead to a change in the dog’s behavior and not for the better - a dog without a means of communication can become cowardly or, conversely, aggressive.

There can be many complications from surgery, because the operation is performed under general anesthesia, and anesthesia itself can lead to various chronic diseases of internal organs. In addition, the operation leaves many extremely painful scars on the larynx: the dog will not be able to eat normally for a long time and will experience constant pain until the scars heal.

Before deciding to undergo surgery, the dog owner needs to think very carefully and consult with a veterinarian and dog handler.

What should country house owners do?

A huge number of dog breeders are concerned about the question of how to calm a dog guarding a private home. This is indeed not an easy task, since passersby are constantly scurrying past the yard and animals are running. There is only one way out. Purchase a special ultrasonic device that emits a signal that only dogs can detect. It will be so unpleasant for them that they will immediately stop barking. As soon as they do this, the device will automatically turn off. All you have to do is adjust the signal strength. The device can operate at a distance of 8 meters.

Many people are surprised by the question of why a dog barks at night. Is there really something mystical about this? In fact, this fact also has a logical explanation. The animal always reacts to noise, including at night.

Tips from a dog trainer

It is better to start training a dog with the socialization of the puppy. But if the dog is already an adult, you need to be patient and follow some rules:

All commands must be spoken calmly and only once. You cannot repeat the command several times, otherwise the dog will remember that it can be done the third time and will ignore the owner’s demands.
A correctly and quickly executed command or termination of an action should be rewarded instantly. Each owner must choose a reward independently, based on the characteristics of their pet - it does not have to be food or a toy; for some dogs, stroking and affection is enough. After the pet has learned the command and follows it unquestioningly, the reward can be gradually removed.
Training should be daily, albeit short. Only systematic training will bring results. Not only the frequency of classes is important, but also constant repeated actions, without variations - there should be no deviations from the execution of commands.
You cannot break down and yell at your pet. Any excitement or excitement of the dog owner is transmitted to the pet and can greatly increase its excitement.

Quiet command

You can calm down “Bobby” using the “quiet” command. At the same time, it should be noted that an adult dog may not succumb to it at all, and in some cases, such a technique can provoke even louder and more frequent barking. That is why it is better to arm yourself with a water spray in advance, using which you can quickly calm your pet. If he obediently follows the command, then do not forget to reward him with some kind of treat.

So, when the dog is barking, you should take a spray bottle and sprinkle water into the animal’s face, and at the same time clearly say the command “quiet”. If the pet has not stopped making sounds, then the exercise should be continued until a positive result is achieved, after which do not forget to treat the dog with a treat.

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Owner mistakes

To ensure that your efforts are not in vain, you need to approach training thoughtfully. Common mistakes include:

Manifestation of a “violent” reaction (positive or negative). Any response is perceived as encouragement.
Inattention to the animal. Barking often indicates complexes and a feeling of uselessness.
Increased attention to a barking dog. You should not approach a barking dog until it stops talking. Otherwise, she will use barking as a means of manipulation.
Use of prohibiting commands. The animal quickly gets used to the commands “fu” and “no”. Very soon it will stop reacting to them and accept the consequences.
Screaming and nervous behavior. The owner's excitement is transmitted to the pet.

During the training process, it is important to take into account that the dog does not bark over trifles. Minor causes can be very significant in the animal world. If education does not bring the desired results, it is better to consult a specialist.

Weaning a dog from barking using the effect of surprise

There are times when you can’t calm your four-legged animal, it seems that you are powerless, and the barking can no longer be tolerated. In this case, there is a proven and simple method to confuse the screamer - grab him by the ears, but do it carefully. It is best to first test this method on a calm pet and if a positive reaction follows, then you can safely adopt the method. After touching the ears, tailed animals often fall into a stupor and stop barking, and you will have a few seconds to switch your pet’s attention, for example, to a toy.

How to stop a dog from barking at night: redirecting energy

It's no secret that a dog is an active and energetic animal; it requires a lot of attention. If you are trying to figure out how to stop your dog from barking at night at home, then this method is definitely for you. First of all, it is worth increasing the duration of walks, especially evening ones. You can also dilute your walks with various active games, such as the classic “fetch” or Frisbee dog. They will be a great addition to daily walks and will help tire out your pet before bed.