How to Stop Dog Barking – Get Proven Results

If you want to know how to stop dog barking it can be helpful to understand the different reasons why dogs bark. Controlling dog barking is easier if you understand your dog’s motive.

Dogs bark for many reasons including:

• Warning barking: when your dog barks at someone at the door or someone passing by his house

• Attention seeking barking

• Playful barking: when your dog barks when he’s excited during play. It’s best not to encourage any play that stimulates your dog to bark.

• Bored barking: when your dog just needs some stimulation; toys, exercise or your attention.

• Anxious or lonely barking: This can be due to separation anxiety.

Because the Coton de Tulear is instinctively a guard dog, he is just naturally doing his job when he barks to let you know someone or something is "out of the ordinary". This is actually a very good thing. I like that Luc barks when someone's at the door or when a strange car pulls in the driveway. These days I can give him a command "quiet" and he will stop barking.

In the beginning before he was trained, he would continue to bark excessively to the point where he and I and the visitor would be so anxious. I couldn't even hold a conversation with my visitors over the barking and nothing seemed to calm him.

Unfortunately at first, in trying to calm and soothe Luc, I did the wrong thing altogether. When I talked soothingly and pet him he thought he was being rewarded for his protection and barking. So I had to switch tactics. I had to show Luc that I was in charge and that I didn't need his protection.

So, how did I change Luc's ways? How did I learn how to stop dog barking? See the tips below:

How to Stop Dog Barking:

1. Teach the “quiet” command. Let him bark once or twice and then use this command to let him know to stop barking. Reward him when he stops barking.

2. Some dogs bark if they are left on their own too long and get bored. Spend lots of time and attention on your new puppy. Provide plenty of toys, walks and quality time spent with you and your family. A bored dog will bark much more than a dog who is active and happy.

3. Socialize your dog at an early age to ensure he gets used to a wide variety of situations as he gets older. Take him to places where he’ll be exposed to kids, adults, cars, all kinds of noises, and other animals.

4. If barking is a problem when you aren't home (and you want to keep your neighbors happy) keep him in his crate with some white noise like a ceiling fan or fountain to drown out the noises that might set him off. Also leave him with toys that will keep him stimulated while you're away.

5. In severe barking problems like Luc's I used the "quiet" command along with a deterrent. This worked immediately for Luc. I would say "quiet" and then I'd jingle a bag full of noisy chains so they made a loud sound. This distracted him and worked like a charm. I've rarely had to use the bag of chains since. You can use anything that makes a sound like a rattle or coins against metal). This tip actually cost me $500 from a professional dog behavior trainer. I must say, it did work better and faster than anything else.

6. If your dog has a severe case of barking and none of these solutions are working, you should see your Vet and make sure there are no physiological issues. The Vet may also want to prescribe some anti-anxiety meds.

7. Don't forget to reward your dog for good behavior.