How can I get my dog to stop barking loudly?
Dogs bark for several reasons. They may bark out of curiosity, to warn other dogs of danger, to encourage play, or to discipline puppies. These barking patterns do not last long. Dogs talk while they play. They talk to each other. Not in English (we wish), but in English. Your Labrador must have his own “voice”, right?
- Reasons why dogs bark excessively:
Physical needs
This could mean that your dog is hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, lacking exercise, or attention. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise in the day, they may build up energy and release it all at once. This can manifest as “zoomies” and barking.
to attract attention
One common reason dogs bark for attention is because they are bored. This has to do with physical needs – a lack of exercise, isolation, or lack of mental stimulation can make a dog bored. Another reason for attention seeking is that a dog has separation anxiety.
anxiety
Dogs with separation anxiety or other anxieties tend to bark a lot for this reason. The barking is often high-pitched and may be accompanied by barking. It can be seen in rescue dogs with PTSD from being left alone, and in adopted dogs that have not been taught not to bark. It’s a habit that should be nipped in the bud at 8 weeks of age.
fear
Any sound or object that catches your dog’s attention will trigger him to bark. This is actually normal, and you don’t want to yell at your dog for this.
territory
Some dogs bark when they perceive a person or another dog entering their territory. The barking tends to get louder the closer the other person is. This is normal and is to our advantage as we want to know if someone is approaching without our knowledge.
greeting
Dogs often bark happily when they meet people or other animals, and barking is usually accompanied by a wagging tail – this is nothing to worry about as it is short-lived, but do not exaggerate or encourage the barking.
First steps to stop excessive barking:
First of all, teach your dog to bark on command. It sounds silly to answer the question “how to stop a dog barking” by having to teach it to bark first. But making a cue out of an annoying behavior reduces the frequency of that behavior. Dogs learn behaviors quickly if they can be taught in opposite pairs. So teaching your dog to bark first helps teach them to be quiet. Or… like me, you can use the universal “eeeeeh!!!” (distraction) when this happens. Try this method if you like.
step 1:
Create an environment where your dog is most likely to bark, using objects or doing things that will encourage your dog to bark as well. When your dog barks, praise him and give him a treat. Remove other animals and people from the environment to create a focused training area.
Step 2:
After several repetitions, calmly wait for your dog to bark unprompted, praising him and giving him a treat each time he barks.
Step 3:
If you have heard your dog bark many times, you may know that they bark in different ways. To start with, try to praise only the barking style that you like. Each barking style may sound like it has a different meaning. The only barking style that I can tolerate is the one that sounds like “talking” and they will understand and talk to me accordingly.
Step 4:
Then add a cue, gesture, or word. Examples are “speak” and “speak.” Use the gesture/word cue just before your dog starts to bark. Make sure to praise and give a treat each time, then transition to verbal praise so that the treat is no longer needed.
Next, teach “quiet”
One way to train a dog to stop barking is to teach it the word “quiet.” Or, “Eh, ah!” This word must be said in a calm and firm voice. This is because yelling or raising your voice gives the dog the impression that you are not trying to stop the barking, but are joining in instead.
step 1:
Use “classical conditioning” to teach your dog the quiet cue: give the quiet cue (the word “quiet” or a hand gesture), pause for half a second, then give a treat, word, or praise.
Once the quiet cue is given, the dog immediately begins to expect a treat, so with classical conditioning you are promising your dog a treat when he gives the “quiet” cue, regardless of what he is doing.
Step 2:
After enough repetition, you will notice your dog remaining quiet in anticipation of the treat, and once this is demonstrated, it is time to move into operant conditioning to reinforce that behavior.
Step 3:
Cue them to be quiet, tolerate the silence for a period of time, and then praise and reward them for being quiet.
Don’t praise your dog when it barks
step 1:
Reward your dog when he is quiet. The question “how to stop a dog from barking” is not difficult. It can be easily achieved by following a few smart steps. Just like jumping, reward your dog only when he is on all fours and looking at you.
Step 2:
If your dog barks at mealtime, ignore the barking and wait until it stops before giving it food. Similarly, if your dog continues to bark to play, ignore it until it quiets down. Then pick out a toy and invite it to play with you. If it starts barking again, stop playing until it’s “quiet” again.
Step 3:
As with parenting, consistency is key. Giving in and responding to your dog’s barking, even if only once, is likely to teach your dog to persist and try harder. Or it may be nearly impossible to stop the barking altogether. To determine and reinforce both behaviors, use them as a “paired cue.” First give the cue to bark, let your dog bark, then give the cue to be quiet, praise and reward your dog after he’s quiet. Repeat this several more times.
(With puppies, do this for just 5 minutes and then repeat over and over again; puppies can have a short attention span).
