Solving Dog Barking Problems
A dog can exhibit many types of behavioural problems; amongst the most irritating are dog barking problems. One of the most important factors in solving this problem is understanding that barking is a natural dog behaviour, and there are many reasons that a dog will begin to bark.
Generally, something in the environment will trigger barking as a response. For example, if another dog or animal is in the area, the dog may bark to assert dominance. Or the dog may be marking out its territory or could even just be bored and barks for something to do.
Some dogs are exhibiting barking problems because they are not sufficiently socialised and don’t know how to respond to other dogs. And it could just be that the dog wants the attention of the owner, barking is a way of getting noticed.
How to Cure Dog Barking Problems
Some owners are unwittingly rewarding dog barking, because the dog has found that it is a sure way to get attention, even is this turns out to be negative attention. It is important that the dog understands that barking is not acceptable behaviour and will never be rewarded by the owner.
So shouting at or reprimanding the dog can cause the behaviour to be negatively reinforced by paying attention to the dog. Other types of reinforcement can include letting a barking dog in from the outside. The dog will connect the act of being let into the home with the behaviour of barking. Dogs learn very quickly from this type of transaction.
You can also create an unhelpful link to barking by stroking a dog to calm it down, or giving it a treat to distract the behaviour from barking. This is a short term fix, but in the long run the dog will link the treat to the barking and it will continue or escalate.
In order to correct common dog barking problems, it is important not to react when a barking trigger arises. For example, if someone comes to the door and rings the door bell, and this normally triggers barking, the owner should sit calmly and not react to the trigger. This demonstrates to the dog that there’s nothing to get stressed out about when these triggers occur.
This may involve deliberately ringing the door bell, or performing whatever activity triggers the barking, and allow the dog to get used to the sound and learn that the barking reaction is not required when these triggers happen.
If the dog barks in the home when the owner is out, you may prevent this behaviour by ensuring that the dog is adequately exercised before being left alone. Also make sure that the dog has access to toys and things to play with to prevent boredom.
The positive reinforcement of non-barking behaviour will help tremendously, so praise the dog when not barking, and create a negative association to barking, such as loud noise.
