Whether you own a English Mastiff, a Sheepdog, or a Bischon, it can be challenging to get your dog to stop barking too much. Different breeds are triggered by different things, from noises to movement. Each breed seems to have its own nuisances for barking. Determining the reason your dog barks so much can be a key to learning to master out of control barking.
Some dog are just barkers. It may seem like they live to bark. Some people don’t mind a lot of dog barking, but it is annoying to many other people. Try to remember that when dogs bark they are using vocal cues and signals to try to communicate with humans or other dogs. Don’t try to stop your dog from barking completely, just try to narrow the barking down to when it is essential for their communication.
One way to avoid excessive barking issues is by not choosing a dog that is known as a big barker. A dog’s breed and purpose is often a huge factor in its barking habits. Dogs bred to protect their owners will bark more than those bred as family pets. Dogs bred for hunting may also tend to bark and even howl more than other breeds. You cannot always predict a dog’s barking behavior by its breed, but knowing the tendency of a breed to bark is important before you choose a dog.
Your dog may try to teach you to respond when she barks. For example, she may drop a ball in your lap and expect you to jump up and come outside to play. You can help control the barking by only getting up after she is quiet. Train her to understand that you will not reward constant, unnecessary barking.
If your dog starts to bark, don’t do anything immediately. Remember, dogs are going to bark at times. If the barking continues you need to take action. Grasp her muzzle and close it with your hand gently, but firmly. If she tries to free herself from your hold, do not hurt her, but use your other hand to hold her collar.
You may be able to figure out why your dog is barking on your own, but sometimes it requires outside help to figure out why your dog will not stop barking. Don’t feel awkward about asking for help. I did and it worked. My dog no longer barks all the time at every noise she hears.