Ways to Reduce Dog Barking 

Ways to Reduce Dog Barking 

It is the dog’s nature to bark. However, there are times when this behavior becomes disruptive. It is up to you to tackle it first-hand! We came up with a list of techniques that can help prevent your dog from barking. It is important to know that you should not expect huge results overnight. The longer your dog has been practicing the barking behavior, the longer it will take for them to develop other means of communication. As always, patience and consistency go a long way!

Remove the motivation. Believe it or not, your dog gets rewarded when they bark. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it! Figure out what they get out of barking and remove it! For example, if your dog continues to bark at people outside the window, do not allow them access to the window.

Ignore. Do you believe that your dog is barking to get attention? Ignore them for as long as it takes for them to stop. When they are at a quiet point, reward them with a treat.

Desensitize. Gradually get your dog accustomed to whatever is causing them to bark. Start with the thing that makes them bark at a distance. You must be far enough away that they don’t bark when they see it. Continue to move the object closer (or move closer to the object) while you focus on bark prevention.

Keep them tired. Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration.

Contact a trainer. If you believe your dog is barking reactively to strangers, family members, or other dogs, or if our recommendations are unsuccessful, consider reaching out to a certified professional dog trainer for help.