Dealing With Barking Dogs

Author: Steven D Middleton

Depending on where you live and what you consider good taste for your pet some barking is greatly appreciated. Stay at home mom or dads like the fact the Fido barks when someone has came to the door unexpected. They did a good job by alerting the owner of potential danger or maybe just the fact that there might be something out there that you needed to know about.

I can tell you from my personal experience that our family dog saved me from a rabid raccoon that was camped out in our front yard. Now we lived in the middle of a small town and you would have never expected to walked out of your front door and straight into the jaws of a rabid animal. She followed me to the door and was whining and barking and made sure she was the first one out. The sad new is we lost. I was 12 at the time and did not understand why she was barking and having a fit.

So not all barking is a bad thing.

So why do dogs bark?

Easy answer is because they can and they have a voice and wish to use it.
First of all it is natural and their way of communicating, either with other dogs or even YOU.

Other reason can be:

They see another animal.
They need to go use the toilet.
Their hungry.
They maybe lonely or bored.
They want to play.

It will be very difficult to get you dog to stop barking for any of the above mention reasons. After all think about what a child would do in any of the above situations. Wouldn’t they say something too? But if you were looking for a totally silent pet there is always that very playful Goldfish.

But sometimes they bark because they think they can get their way with you. Barking at you while you watch TV or read a book. If they see that you will stop what you are doing to play with them, then that is a learned response and they will keep doing it. In a instant like this you are going to have to learn how to ignore them. To teach them that you are not going to give in. The main point is never to change your methods and give in later. This will send confusing signal to your pet.

Other times this may not work, you may have to take a hands on approach. NO, I am not talking about hitting your pet! But you do have to teach what is acceptable at times. First let them get the barking out of their system, then reach down and claps your hand around their snout, firmly but not so hard to hurt them. You may need to hold their collar so that you can maintain your grip. Allow them to calm down, to stop squirming, and talk them in a firm voice. Once they have calm down release them. This is a simple method to teach your pet right from wrong.