How To Train A Dog To Not Bark
Introduction
The dog barked once—a quick, “Hey! What’s going on over there?” sort of bark. The man looked up from his desk, then went back to typing. A few minutes later, the dog barked again—this time a little louder and more insistent. The man lifted his head again, frustrated but still ignoring the dog. Finally, the dog barked a third time, full-on barking now: “Seriously! Bark! Barkbarkbarkbark!” The man slammed his laptop shut and growled at the dog. “Will you stop barking?!” he yelled at her. The next day, as I sat in my office talking to my friend on the phone about her new puppy that wouldn’t stop barking at every noise it heard outside of its owner’s apartment window all day long, I thought about how different things might have been for my friend if that man had just taken a moment to teach his dog not to bark…before it became such a problem.
Figure out why the dog is barking.
Your dog is barking for a reason. It’s important to figure out what that reason is so you can train the behavior away. Barking can be used as a communication tool, or it may be used to get attention. Dogs who bark when they are alone or bored may be trying to get outside, inside, or even just your attention from you specifically if they are anxious or scared. Why the dog barks will help determine how best to stop them from doing so.
Know the triggers.
In order to train your dog to not bark, you need to identify the triggers that elicit a barking response and then plan actions to avoid or mitigate those triggers.
- Know the dog’s environment.
- Know the dog’s personality, breed and age.
Use positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is an effective strategy for training your dog to stop barking. Reward your dog when he or she does not bark, and give them treats or a toy as a reward. Be consistent with your rewards, and be patient with the process of training.
Teach the “Quiet” command.
The key to training a dog not to bark is to teach your dog that when he barks, bad things happen. To do this, you will need to teach the word “quiet” or “shhh” as a command. The trick is to train him so that when he hears the word, he knows it means that he needs to sit down and be silent.
The first step in teaching this is making sure that your dog understands how the command works by rewarding him every time that he responds appropriately. When training with treats, make sure that they are small enough not only for the dog but also for tiny hands (and mouths) so they can be easily fed without dropping any pieces into places where they might get lost (like inside couch cushions or behind furniture). Use pieces of hot dogs or small bits from other foods instead of using whole pieces of food—this will make it easier for you not only because you won’t have crumbs everywhere but also because it will reduce temptation for other members of your family who don’t want their own snacks stolen by hungry pups!
Once your pup has learned what “quiet” means and responds appropriately whenever someone says those words around them then it’s time for phase two: reinforcing those lessons with positive reinforcement whenever possible during daily activities like walking outside together before bedtime at night time after dinner during naptime throughout day whenever else possible!
Reduce bark triggers.
Reduce the dog’s need to bark by:
- Providing ample exercise and mental stimulation. A tired dog is less likely to bark. Make sure your pup has enough time each day for walking, running around in a fenced yard or playing with an interactive toy like a Kong Wobbler or treat ball.
- Reducing boredom. If you leave your dog alone for extended periods of time, you may need to give him something fun to do while you’re away; otherwise, he will find his own entertainment—which might include barking at passersby through the window!
- Giving attention when needed (but not too much). Some dogs become anxious when their owners leave so they need extra affection and reassurance when they return home. Be careful not to smother your pup; instead focus on training him not just with words but also with touch and body language.”
Practice with other people and in other rooms.
Practice with other people, in other rooms. Practice with different toys. Practice with different sounds.
When you practice these commands with your dog, make sure that the environment is calm and quiet so that your dog does not become desensitized to the commands you are teaching him/her.
Dogs can be taught to bark less often, but even so they may still need to bark sometimes!
While you may be able to train your dog not to bark all the time, they may still need to bark sometimes.
Some reasons that dogs may bark include:
- Barking at other dogs or people. This could be because they are being territorial or because they are fearful of another animal/person’s behavior. There are many ways you can work with your dog in this situation if you wish for them not to bark out of fear (ie: training).
- Barking at noises such as sirens, doorbells, etc… If a noise happens which triggers their barking habit (eg: hearing an ambulance siren), then it is important that you stay calm so that your reaction does not reinforce their behavior of barking at those sounds.
Conclusion
There may be a time when you can’t have the windows open and he barks at every leaf that passes by. Or maybe your neighbors are making noise and he feels compelled to bark just because they are there. If this is the case, try training them while they are wearing a muzzle so they don’t hurt anyone with their barking. You also need to teach him that barking will not get him what he wants! Just like we said before, if it works then reward him but if it doesn’t work then give a stern command (such as “quiet!”) and leave without giving any treats or attention until another time when he does better with this command.”
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