How To Home Train Your Dog To Stop Excessive Barking?

The first thing that you need to understand is that barking is natural for any dog. It is an important means of communication for dogs. Dogs bark for many reasons such as:

• To solicit play (to give an indication to invite you to play with them)
• When a person or animal tries to invade their territory
• When they are upset or alone (to grab your attention)
• When they are stressed or bored
• Some dogs barks at noise or any activity that catches their attention

Sometimes the barking can start to feel a bit excessive which can create a ton of problems. Thus some kind of dog training is required to control this annoying habit. Getting your dog to bark less will take time, practice, work, and consistency. It would not happen overnight, but with proper training and time, you will see the progress.

Helpful tips to stop your dog’s nuisance barking:

Teach your dog the ‘quiet’ command

When they are barking, do not stop them till they get relaxed because if you shout at them during barking, they’ll think that you are supporting them. So, when they get relaxed tell them to be quiet, they’ll take it as a command.

Keep your dog tired

It is considered that a dog barks more because of excess energy, there is a need to release that energy in a productive manner. A tired dog is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on the dog breed, age and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as good playtime like chasing the ball and playing with interactive toys, etc.

Reward your dog

Wait until they stop barking even if it is just to take a breath then praise them and give them a treat. They will automatically figure out that if they stop barking they will get a reward.

Get your pet checked-up

Some of the medical problems (like brain disease) also cause dogs to bark excessively. Old dogs develop a form of canine senility (odd behavior noticed in senior dogs) that causes excessive vocalization. It is necessary to get them checked up by a veterinarian to avoid such problems.

Ignore them

Ignore your dog while they are barking and don’t even look at them till they stop. Don’t talk to them or touch them as this might result in them believing that you like it and offering a treat. To be successful with this method you have to wait as long it takes for them to stop barking.

Distract them

Get your dog familiar with whatever causing them to bark. If they particularly bark excessively when they see something or someone they are not familiar with, try to distract their attention by offering them their favorite food or toy to play with.

For example: If your dog starts to bark excessively when they see someone you know approaching your home, distract them by giving them their favorite treat or toy.

Remove the motivation

Remove those things from the sight that motivates your dog to bark more. For example; if they bark at random people or animals passing by and they keep barking at them while watching them from your room window, then remove the motivation by closing the curtains or putting your dog in another room. They get the hint in time!

Professional help

Lastly, if you’re unable to home train a dog from excessive barking then find professional help. You can prevent dog barking and other dog behavior problems by calling in a canine professional to help the dog training.

There is no exact science when comes to dog training. But once you know and understand the reasons behind your dog’s excessive barking, you can start working on ways to reduce the excessive barking habit.

Feel free to add any more homemade tips in the comments below. We’ll be happy to include them on our list!