Barking and howling can be very annoying. Especially if you live in a city, it can get to the nerves of your neighbors. Some will even call the police and file a complaint against you. Most dogs who tend to bark or howl do it at night. That can be translated into sleepless issues for you, your family, and neighbors.
This is why it is very important to manage how to train your dog not to bark. Next, we are giving useful tips to get rid of such annoying behavior.
The Bark and Quiet Commands
How about getting control of barking? To learn how to train your dog not to bark can ironically be a matter of teaching him to bark. If he does it under command, you can also train him to be quiet. This easy solution is better implemented when you don’t yet have a barking problem. As you start to train your dog and think of barking as an issue, then add these commands to your list.
Barking Training
Teaching your dog to bark, and then stop can be a challenge. Start with something that encourages him to bark. It can be a bell or even you barking. Speak the command loud and clear, and then active the trigger. Then, make it clear after a single bark that he must be quiet with another command.
Use treats to reward your dog when he does it correctly. Then, as he barks for no reason, you will have the right command on how to train your dog not to bark.
Punishing when Barking
Another approach on how to train your dog not to bark is to go for punishments. It doesn’t need to be a harsh punishment. In fact, just a spray of water will do the job. Keep it at hand and spray his face whenever he barks. It will be an unpleasant sensation to him, and a very effective training aid.
Whenever you sprinkle water to his face, make it with a strong command. That way, you will tie the command to the sprinkling sensation. Then, you won’t need the punishment for the command to take effect.
Automatic Training Options
If you failed on all your attempts of training your dog, an automatic training option could be the answer to your barking issues. There are bark collars that may be useful for training.
From all the different kinds of collars, some are more pet-friendly than others. Make sure you don’t choose anything that can harm your dog or create genuine pain and fear. Your pet deserves better than a stiff punishment for a natural reflection.
The best choice, if you are going for a collar, is to activate a blast of air. Citronella powder is another option that will not harm much your dog, but it can irritate its eyes in the long run. Another popular choice is a sound. However, even though we cannot listen to it, the pitch usually hurts the dog, causing real pain. Most collars are activated with noise. If your dog barks, then the mechanism is activated.
An automated collar will work even if you are not with them, but it is not recommended. You can turn it off easily without taking the collar off. The pitfall of these devices comes when another dog is barking in the nearby area, it will trigger the mechanism as well, punishing your dog for another dog’s barking.
Dog Health
Listen to your dog. Sometimes his barking and howling is not a behavioral problem. It can be a medical issue. Observe him carefully if he changes his barking habits. Most times, he will bark if he is in pain or if he feels something is wrong. Barking is usually not the only symptoms. Here is a list of other things that your pet may be experiencing with excessive barking:
- Aggressive Behavior
- Apathy
- Appetite Loss
- Chewing
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Digging
- Limping
- Pacing
- Shaking
- Swollen Abdomen
- Vomiting
- Weight Loss
If you observe excessive barking and any of these issues, ask your vet. Your pet might be sick, and he is just trying to get help.
Fun / Interesting Dog Facts
Did you know that there is a dog breed that will not bark? If you chose the Basenji as your companion, you would not need to learn how to train your dog not to bark. It doesn’t bark, but he is not mute. He simply has different habits as a hunting dog. The breed is native from Africa, and it is medium sized. He is always alert and makes use of his sight and smell to be attentive of his surroundings.
Any other breed apart from the Basenji will bark. So, be aware of our tips to keep it under control!