Managing Your Dog Barking Problems
January 6th, 2011 by Hugo I. Cercil
There are quite a few problematic behaviors a dog could have, and one of the worst problems is dog barking. There are plenty of causes behind a dog who barks, and the reasons behind it should be examined carefully so that the dog barking can be brought to an end. A barking dog always starts because of a trigger in the immediate setting. The barking may be an assertion of supremacy, in response to another animal or dog in the area. Sometimes, the barking is a means of laying claim to their territory, while on other occasions, the barking may simply be for the simple pleasure of it. Barking can be problematic for some dogs who have never been properly socialized with other dogs, and so they bark to get more attention from their owners.
Fixing This Problem
There are plenty of dog owners who make the barking problem worse by offering a reward to stop their barking, even if it means offering negative attention. A dog must understand that barking is not suitable conduct and will not be tolerated, nor rewarded, in any way. When the dog owner responds to the barking issue by screaming at the dog, the owner is simply giving the dog attention which encourages the behavior, even though your response is negative. If an owner lets a dog in the house that has been constantly barking outside, this also sends the message that such behavior will be tolerated – and the behavior will just continue and probably get worse. Comforting a barking dog or giving it a doggy treat to quiet it down is yet another way of reinforcing a dog barking problem, which is not going to stop.
Problem barking can be corrected through several dog training techniques. One of the first strategies is to remain calm and not react when the dog begins barking at something ordinary, like a doorbell or a ringing phone. When the doorbell or telephone rings, a dog owner needs to remain where they are and not respond in any way, thus indicating to the dog that they should not be anxious or alert about those noises. When you are training your dog, it would be advantageous for the both of you if you run the telephone or doorbell routinely to ensure that they understand that there is no need to have a reaction toward these sounds.
There are also methods for avoiding dog barking issues when the owner is away from home. Ensuring that your dog has adequate diversions, ample active play time, and has no reason to feel anxious, are all positive steps to be taken to avoid barking problems when you are not home. Do not immediately give attention to a dog that was barking while you were out, wait until he has stopped, and is in a calmer state, before you give him any attention. The dog should receive praise when it isn’t barking, and when it begins barking some type of negative association should occur in response, like the sounds from a bark collar or a sharp noise.
Hugo is a consultant who specializes in dog training methods to increase the pet owner’s satisfaction with their pet. Looking for a free guide to dog training? Visit James’ site to get one, see other helpful hints and read training product reviews. Take a look at: Secrets to Dog Training Review , Dog behavior problems
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