If you want to know how to stop a dog barking, then this article will show you how. Specifically, we’re going to talk about why you shouldn’t shout at your dog, some of the reasons why he may be barking, and how to stop unwanted barking step by step. By the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll be able to prevent your dog barking when you don’t want him to.
Let’s start by talking about why you shouldn’t “shout” at your dog while he is barking. You see, regardless of what command you are shouting, your dog will interpret that you are just joining in with him. This will reinforce his decision to bark, which will in turn, make him more likely to bark in the future, and leave you feeling frustrated.
It’s a good idea to determine why your dog is barking, before you try to stop him from doing so. Most of the time, your dog is just trying to alert you to visitor arriving or something suspicious happening. This is good behavior. After all, don’t you want your dog to alert you if something is going on?
Another reason may be that he is barking for attention. This isn’t such a good reason for him to bark, but it does give you the message that he wants attention – so it serves a purpose.
So here’s how to stop your dog barking, after he has alerted you – but continues to bark.
The first thing to do is reward your dog with praise. Don’t go over board as he may think you’re rewarding him for continuing to bark. A quick “good boy” or “good girl” is enough. If your dog continues to bark, give a short “stop” command. A single word works better than a longer command, because your dog will learn quicker and find it easier to understand.
Once your dog has stopped barking, reward him with a tasty food treat. This is a basic “positive reinforcement” exercise, and it’s very effective once you get the hang of it.
Now that you have read this article, you should the best ways to stop dog barking easily.