Excessive barking can irritate not only a dog’s owner but also entire neighborhoods. Dogs bark to attract attention, communicate, or express excitement. To curb excessive barking, you must first identify its triggers and ensure your own behavior clearly distinguishes when barking is acceptable and when it is not.
The challenge with barking lies in its dual nature: sometimes it’s desirable, and other times it’s disruptive. We praise dogs for barking at strangers near our homes, but when friends visit—strangers to the dog—we expect silence. Our moods also influence our reactions; we’re more likely to scold Fido for barking when we’re feeling unwell or irritable.
Completely eliminating barking is neither realistic nor desirable, as vocalization is natural for dogs. Instead, the goal is to teach a command that silences the dog when needed. Many dogs bark for attention when bored, lonely, frustrated, or scared. A common cause of excessive barking is insufficient exercise, so ensure your dog gets daily walks before starting training.
Training Techniques for Quieter Dogs
Training equips you with a command, such as “be quiet” or “stop barking,” to signal silence. Barking is acceptable until this command is given, after which the dog should stop immediately. To train, allow two or three barks, praise the dog for the alert, then say your command (e.g., “stop barking”) while waving a treat near their nose. Most dogs will pause barking to sniff the treat, as they cannot do both simultaneously. After a few seconds of silence, reward with the treat and praise the quiet behavior. Gradually increase the silence duration before giving the treat, adding a few seconds each time. If the dog barks after the command, scold immediately and retry for silence.
For dogs undeterred by treats, use a spray bottle set to “stream” as a training aid. After giving the command to stop barking, spray the dog once in the face to get their attention, repeat the command, wave the treat, and reward silence.
In extreme cases, specialized tools may help. A citronella anti-bark collar sprays a citrus-scented mist, which dogs dislike, when it detects barking. Studies show this can quickly reduce barking. Alternatively, an ultrasonic collar emits a sound—sometimes inaudible to humans—that annoys the dog enough to stop barking over time.
For dogs that bark incessantly while you’re away, separation anxiety and boredom are likely culprits. This behavior can be exacerbated by doting on your dog, such as talking to them when leaving or giving constant attention at home. To address this, consider hiring a dog walker for midday exercise. Provide a toy to keep them occupied while you’re gone, and ignore the dog before leaving until they settle calmly.
We shape our dogs’ behavior, so achieving desired results requires knowing when to praise, give attention, ignore, or scold. Ignoring and scolding can be challenging because we love our pets, but consistent discipline fosters a stronger, healthier bond. To reduce barking, commit to daily training, exercise, and discipline. It may take time, but your neighbors will appreciate the effort.
