There are several techniques for a dog to stop barking, however, it will never be able to stop completely. Our furry ones need to bark, it is part of their nature and their way of communication; However, there are several ways to prevent your furry from barking excessively, either to avoid conflicts such as noise pollution.

You have to keep three things in mind: The first is that the more you allow your dog to bark, the more it will cost him to stop. The second is that you should avoid yelling, if you yell your dog will bark at you at the same time and louder. Be consistent, do not confuse your furry.

Most dogs were born to bark, even though there are breeds that bark more than others (and believe it or not, there are also some that are very quiet). However, dog barking is very common and is a reality in your life as a pet owner.

If you have a dog that barks excessively, you will want to read this article. Try these strategies to stop your dog’s barking.

Stopping the barking of dogs: the four approaches

• Visual obstacles
• A quiet area
• Anti-stress and bark control devices
• Training

Understand barking

Before educating our dog we have to understand what is the motivation for the barking, whether they are trying to make themselves understood or want to let you know something: that they are hungry, that there is someone unknown, they are thirsty or they simply want to play. In these cases, it is easier for your dog to learn other ways to attract attention, whether by pawing you, bringing the food plate, or standing near the door.

Why do the dogs bark?

Before taking steps to control dog barking, it is important to recognize why they are barking. Barking is the most common form of communication for our best friends and serves a variety of functions.

According to the North American Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), these are the most common reasons for dog barking :

• Territorial barking: excessive barking in response to invasion by people, dogs, or other animals from their territory.
• Alarm Bark – Bark in response to noise and visuals. The alarm bark is not limited to defending territory only.
• Barking to get attention: dogs usually bark because this way they know that you will pay attention to them or they will receive a treat (give food or play with them).
• Welcome Bark: This is a bark to say “hello”! The welcome bark is usually accompanied by relaxed body language and a cheery tail wag.
• Compulsive barking: barking is usually accompanied by a repetitive movement, such as small steps from one side to the other.
• Sociable Bark: Also known as the “response bark,” it arises when they hear another dog bark.
• Frustration-generated barking: excessive barking as a result of a frustrating situation, for example when separated from other dogs or a person.

The idea is that you can recognize what type of dog barking your dog has. Once you’ve done it, you can determine your dog’s motivation to bark, and find tips and tools to stop it.

1. Use visual obstacles

Territorial and alarm barking arises when the dog sees or hears something that catches its attention (for this reason, many dogs bark when looking out the window or from a balcony). The easiest way to stop barking in your window, balcony, or garden is by controlling the environment. Cover your dog’s vision to avoid potential barking triggers.

If you have a garden, use a privacy fence so as not to invade the view of neighbors. On the other hand, if you have a terrace or a balcony, you can try placing an awning or canvas to prevent your dog from looking at the street. Remember to supervise him at all times in case he is on the balcony.

Inside the house, you can narrow the curtains, keep the blinds down or use a self-adhesive vinyl for glass windows, which will block your dog’s view to the outside (and protect him from UV rays) but allow light to access your home anyway.

2. Create a quiet doggy area

If your dog barks when you leave home (this could be a sign of separation anxiety), find a quiet space for your dog away from the front door, such as a room away from hallways or distractions.

The quiet zone can include:

• A comfortable bed where there is also a metal safety barrier for babies to block the passage to other common areas.
• A candy-filled KONG toy or puzzle with prizes to keep him busy.
• A sound machine that generates sounds of nature and distracts you from outside noises (a radio can also work).

3. Anti-stress and bark control devices

Thanks to advances in technology and a deeper understanding of dog behavior, there are some products on the market that control dog barking gently and humanely. This anti-barking device generates an unpleasant ultrasonic sound for dogs, which stops them from barking. Some dogs have no effect and others are too sensitive to these sounds to be useful. But normally, this device can be very effective.

4. Training

There are many tricks and tools that you can use to help control your dog’s barking, but these tricks are most effective when combined with training. Some key commands can help control canine barking:

• ” Speak”: Yes, training your dog to bark under one command helps him learn not to bark at other times, especially when using another command on this list.
• “Hush” or “hush”: help your dog to calm down. Check out the video as an example!
• “Sit” or “still”: This is useful to keep your dog busy in case something happens that could trigger the barking dog. If your dog tends to bark when you walk him on a leash, the “sit” or “stay” commands can be especially helpful.

You can also teach your dog these commands with the help of a professional handler. In this way, you can practice desensitization techniques that help your dog get used to not reacting immediately to certain triggers. Training a dog takes perseverance and patience, but the long-term result is worth it!

Dog barking can be very annoying to human ears but the combination of tools/tricks and proper training can go a long way in teaching your dog to be quiet.