5 Ways to Stop a Barking Dog Naturally

If you are a dog owner, you will know how cumbersome and painful it is to stop barking dogs from making too much noise. Before you examine the various ways of stopping your dogs from barking, it is good to know why they bark in the very first place.

Dogs love to bark; it is their way of communicating to their owners. They may be trying to signal you to an incoming threat or they could be hungry.

Dogs also bark when they are in pain. Their barks can sometimes be a grand fanfare, welcoming your arrival. Dogs also have a tendency to bark when they are put in a new setting. They bark to deter any potential threats.

Recognizing the reason why he is barking will allow you to remedy the problem head-on. Here are five natural ways you can stop barking dogs.

Do Not Give In To His Plea for Attention

If your dog is barking to seek your attention, you must not reciprocate his gesture. Many owners make the mistake of cuddling the dog and giving it attention when it is barking. Over time, your dog will know that he can get your attention just by barking. You must not tolerate this behavior! The next time he barks, you need to ignore him completely. Wait until he stops barking before you shower him with attention.

Teach Him To Stop Barking On Command

Your dog may bark ceaselessly when it is outside or when a house guest enters your house. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to get him to quiet down. To prevent this, you will need to train your dog to stop barking on command. Decide on a command word that you want to use e.g. quiet. Then, let your dog bark freely. Execute the command. Praise him when he quiets down. Train him until he is able to stop barking upon your first command.

Provide Entertainment

Many dogs bark out of boredom and loneliness. Most dogs love to play around and they like to be active. In the absence of fun and activity, dogs begin to bark to release any pent-up energy. If you want to stop a barking dog, you need to constantly provide entertainment for your dog. Take him out for a walk. Let him run around the house. Give him his favorite toys. A tired dog is less likely to bark than an excitable and energetic dog.

Distract Them

A dog will not stop barking until the perceived threat is gone. This will however be difficult when you have house guests; you can’t possibly expect them to leave five minutes after they’ve reached. To get your dogs to stop barking, you must first distract them from the strangers. Hold up a treat. The dog will immediately stop barking as he needs to sniff it. Execute the Sit command and then get him to quiet down. When he’s done so, reward him with the treat. You may gradually introduce your visitors to him.

Build his Confidence

Most young puppies bark because they are afraid of new surroundings. As a pet owner, you need to help your puppy build his confidence. Bring him out more often and let him socialize with other dogs. However, be sure to remove any potential fear triggers in his sight. If he appears to withdraw from the situation, you should accede to his request and not force him. Do not punish him; be patient and in time the excessive barking will cease.