Dogs will bark for any of several reasons. Understanding normal barking behavior is necessary to determine IF your dog has a barking problem.

Normal Dog Barking

Barking is a dog’s natural way of getting your attention. The same way we ask questions or let someone know something is amiss or wrong. Make sure the animal has the necessities like ample food, water and comfortable places to be.

If the animal is hungry or thirsty, they may bark to let you know “Hey! I need something here! Pay attention to me!” Supplying the food and water in ample quantities will solve that in a hurry. Be especially sure your dog has water on a continual basis.They will need a warm place in the winter and shade in the summer.

One final reason for normal barking is that your dog may be frustrated. If they are in a small space for too long, extremely bored, or because their is someone threatening their territory they will bark. Help relieve this frustration by playing with them, taking them on a walk, or moving them so they cannot see out the window at the intruders.

Abnormal Dog Barking

If your dog seems to be barking for no apparent reason they may have anxiety, way too much energy, or has simply never been trained to be quiet. Here are some solutions for these problems:

1. When You Come Home

When you return from being out, do not greet the dog as if you were away for a great deal of time. A simple pat on the head and a “Hello” should suffice. Anything more leaves the impression that being alone is a BIG deal and they will bark incessantly while you are away.

2. Limit Praise

Only offer praise and petting when it is deserved. It has to mean something or it sends the wrong message. Your dog has to learn to earn your praises.

3. Curing Anxiety

Get your dog used to being alone for short periods. Give them a good chew toy and when they are absorbed in the toy, leave the room and shut the door. When you return, don’t make it a big event. They will probably swarm you for affection, which you should ignore. This reinforces the idea that you’re being away wasn’t that important to their survival after all. Do this repeatedly until the days pass and they no longer seem phased when you leave the room.

Barking Relief

These are some of the things you can do to curb abnormal barking. If these do not show any results, there are other, more radical solutions, like a citronella barking collar or an electric shock collar. These are completely humane, simple and safe to use.

Citronella collars will gently spritz a whiff of citronella in front of the dog’s nose when he barks. Dogs dislike the odor of the stuff and it works surprisingly well for most dogs.The shock collar is a little more dramatic and emits a light shock when the dog barks. This is reserved for moderate to severe problems.

Misbehaving dog? Need to house train a puppy? Get dog training advice and dog training products at http://www.dogbehaviorexpert.com

- Thomas Turner

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