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Turning Down the Volume on the Problem of Excessive Dog Barking

At first it’s endearing. Eventually it’s a minor annoyance. But by the time you’ve lived with an incessantly-barking dog for an extended period of time, you’re likely ready to pull your hair out.

Dealing with a canine that barks excessively can prove frustrating for even the most patient dog owner. The constant noise can induce a headache, make you self-conscious of the effect on your neighbors and – worst of all – make you question whether you’re even capable of being a suitable dog owner.

While barking is a natural form of vocalization for dogs, it should be done in moderation. Rather than accept a bark-filled existence, it’s time for you to take control. Your dog has many appealing qualities – why not highlight those while de-emphasizing barking?

Once you understand the root causes of dog barking, you’ll be better equipped to seek a proper solution. Just think how much happier you’ll be once your pooch’s barking diminishes. Silence, after all, is golden.

What Causes a Dog to Bark Excessively?

When a dog barks incessantly, it doesn’t happen by pure chance. Rather, there’s likely a specific causation that’s prompting your dog to make himself heard. The following represent reasons a dog may resort to barking:

Training a Dog When to Bark

Just as a dog can be trained to comply with commands, it can also be trained to know when barking is appropriate (such as when an unexpected visitor arrives at your house). Positive reinforcement often serves as the most effective means of improving behavior.

When trying to curtail a dog’s barking, as with any other training program, be consistent and clear about just what you want your dog to do. If you tell your dog to be quiet, you must enforce what you’ve instructed.

This can be accomplished by keeping your dog by your side on an indoor lead at problematic times. When you anticipate your dog preparing to bark, pick up the lead and tell your dog to sit. Should your canine comply, shower him with praise and a treat. Repeated positive reinforcement can curb your dog’s barking problem.

Additional Treatment for Excessive Barking

While there are few sure-fire ways to eliminate barking altogether, many strategies exist to curb dog barking to a tolerable level. These include:

Seeking Aid from a Veterinary Behaviorist

A veterinary behaviorist is a vet with specialized training and qualifications designed to address behavioral issues within animals. In the case of a behavioral problem like barking, a veterinary behaviorist could assess the issue and provide viable treatment options. For example, this type of specialist could establish whether separation anxiety is, in fact, the catalyst of your dog’s barking.

A veterinary behaviorist can also determine whether your dog’s barking originates from an underlying medical problem, as serious health issues can incite some dogs to bark excessively.

The Controversy Over Debarking Surgery

As frustrating as incessant barking can be, most veterinarians agree that debarking surgery is not the proper solution. With this method, a dog’s vocal cords are surgically removed in order to prevent barking.

In addition to being considered cruel and even outlawed by some states, debarking surgery doesn’t always prove effective in completely eliminating a dog’s ability to bark. It’s simply too extreme of a solution, given that many other options for treatment of barking are available.

Barking on Vacation

Just because you bring your dog on vacation doesn’t mean your dog will take a vacation from barking. In fact, new stimuli associated with a vacation destination may incite your dog to bark more than usual.

Vacation is not the right time to begin treatment for excessive barking. If your dog develops a barking behavior problem during vacation, you may need to keep him under constant supervision to prevent your dog from ruining the experience for fellow vacationers.

Preventative medicine is key; strive to combat your dog’s barking problem before embarking on a vacation. If your dog is not yet capable of controlling his barking, then save inclusion of your canine for the next trip.

Resources for Reducing Dog Barking

Want more useful advice regarding how to quell dog barking? Check out our featured articles:
Excessive Barking in Dogs
When Barking Is a Problem
What Can a Veterinary Behaviorist Do For My Dog?
Surgery to Stop Dog Barking – The Controvery with Debarking Procedures
Barking on Vacation