Our dogs are our loyal companions who offer us love, affection, and amusement. They provide us with endless entertainment, their tricks and hijinks are enough to put a smile on anybody’s face. However, if your dog keeps barking, you may find that your relationship with your pet becomes difficult to manage.
We all know that dogs bark; it’s how they communicate and express their feelings. However, when a dog is barking incessantly it can cause serious disruption to the lives of owners and neighbours. If your dog keeps barking and you feel powerless to make them stop, we’ve got a guide just for you. Check it out below.
Why Do Dogs Bark?
Before we get into the tips and techniques for managing a dog that keeps barking, it’s important to understand why dogs bark in the first place.
Obviously, dogs can’t talk like we can. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t communicate. They use a range of vocal and non-vocal cues to tell us how they’re feeling and express different moods and emotional states.
Non-verbal signals include things like tail wagging when happy and teeth-baring when stressed or frightened. The most common verbal signal used by dogs is the bark. Dogs bark for a wide range of different reasons, and studies have shown that they can alter the pitch, tone, and amplitude of their barks. By listening carefully to your dog’s bark, it can be possible to work out what they’re trying to say.
Dogs can bark when they’re excited, when they’re hungry, when they want to go for a walk, or when they’re frightened. This is a broad range of different emotions, demonstrating clearly just how vital barking is for dogs to communicate.
Dogs may also bark when they’re in pain or unwell, or if they’re displaying signs of something like separation anxiety.
If your dog keeps barking, the noise can be stressful for all involved. Let’s take a look at some tips and discuss how you can handle the situation.
Identify the Cause
The first thing to remember is that it’s unrealistic to expect to be able to stop your dog from barking completely. Barking is a natural behaviour for dogs, so a dog that barks occasionally is perfectly normal and shouldn’t be scolded for it.
However, if your dog keeps barking and you find that the behaviour is negatively impacting your life, there are steps you can take to manage the situation.
The first and most important thing you need to do is to identify why your dog keeps barking, as the cause of the barking will determine what measures you take to address the behaviour.
Some dogs bark out of boredom. This can be easily solved by spending more time with your dog and ensuring they are mentally stimulated. Play with them every day and always remember to take them out on plenty of walks.
Dogs can also bark when they’re in pain. These kinds of barks are often different to regular barks, and generally higher in pitch. If you notice that your dog is barking at a higher pitch, or if they are barking when you touch them, this could indicate that they are in pain or discomfort and that a trip to the vet is in order.
If your dog keeps barking when you’re not home, you’ll likely hear about it from your neighbours. This could indicate that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, which causes them stress when left home alone. To address this, you can try increasing the amount of exercise you give your dog to tire them out. Severe separation anxiety needs professional help.
Teaching Your Dog to Be Quiet on Command
Teaching your dog to be quiet on command can be an effective way of controlling and managing their barking.
When your dog starts barking, say the word ‘Quiet’ in a calm but authoritative voice. Wait until your dog stops barking (they might not do so right away) and then praise them. Your dog has to understand you are not accepting their noisy behaviour You must give your dog guidance and establish clear household rules and boundaries. Dogs feel far more calm secure when they know their owner is in charge. Happy secure dogs are mainly quiet with only an occasional play bark.
It’s important that you don’t shout the ‘Quiet’ command. Barking is a dog’s way of shouting, so if you’re shouting too, your dog will think you’re joining in, and it will only make matters worse.
Conclusion
If your dog keeps barking, you’ve likely tried everything to make them stop. To do so effectively, it’s essential that you identify what is causing the behaviour, and from there you can take action to address the issue.
If you need help training your dog, don’t be afraid to call in a specialist. Speak to Pawsitive Solutions on 07842 050 998 or at enquiries@pawsitivesolutions.com to get the expert guidance you need.