Excessive Barking 

Dogs bark. It’s a part of their life and they love to communicate that way! However, if there is a dog who barks excessively, it’s time to dig deeper and put a stop to it. Before getting upset with the dog, you will need to determine the cause of the bad behavior.

• Is the dog dominant/aggressive? Barking can be a way of marking territory. Therefore, dog training is beneficial.
• Is the dog bored? If so, make sure that you give them something to do that is both mentally and physically stimulating.
• Is the dog overstimulated? Try to determine what they are stimulated by and then block the dog’s visual access.
• Is the dog triggered by something? Identify the cue and remove it or recondition the dog to respond in a different manner.

Please do not ever reward a dog for inappropriate barking. If you try to soothe your dog into being quiet, you will not get the results you are looking for. You may be aware of the many gadgets out on the market today that deter dogs from barking. We highly recommend that you consider the side effects before investing in these products. Do you believe that a shock collar can be effective? Would it be beneficial to the dog’s emotional state? These are just a few things to think about.

Being proactive is the best way to cure excessive barking. Your goals are to determine the reason why your dog is barking and then go from there. Dog training with a certified trainer will yield success if you discover that you are not making any progress yourself. Always remember that consistency is key!