For many dog families, excessive barking can become an annoying problem. It is usual for dogs to bark, but something must be wrong if some dogs bark excessively.
Territory/Protection/Warning/Fear:
This type of barking is usually motivated by fear or a threat to their territory or family. Limiting your dog’s field of vision can mitigate your dog’s barking. If in a fenced yard, use solid wood instead of chicken wire.
If it is indoors, outsiders should be prevented from entering, or opaque films should be put on doors and windows. This can be mitigated by making it impossible for them to see other creatures entering or attempting to enter the territory.
Boredom/Loneliness:
If your dog barks too much when we are not home, we need to provide more activities or companionship to prevent them from feeling lonely or bored, such as walking or playing with them for at least an hour each day.
Giving your dog something to do, such as hidden food toys in various shapes and sizes, can also be helpful. These can keep them busy for a long time and allow them to nap when tired. If conditions permit, you can send your dog to a dog park for two or three days of daycare every week or do agility, obedience training, etc., so they have no time to feel lonely and bored.
Greetings/Games:
We need to teach them other behaviors to stop dogs from barking every time their owners come home or the doorbell rings. One method is to train dogs to go to a place and stay there when the door is open. Choose a spot where your dog can best see the door but not too close to it. Then, practice asking the dog to stay there, but let’s not touch the door for now.
Once done, proceed to open the doors when they are in place. It got to the point where even when we opened the door and walked in, the dog stayed put. In the meantime, we will use many rewards and praise to make it a game.
Of course, dogs will move from their spot initially, but with time and practice, they will learn to stay put when the door opens and people come in.
Then, never reward a dog that barks at us when we get home. Wait to pet or make eye contact until they stop barking and sit quietly. Wait until they calm down before acknowledging and praising your touch.
Seek Attention:
If the dog barks when thirsty or hungry, we get the signal, pour out the food and water, and then teach them to bark to get what they want.
The same goes for if they are barking to get out. If your dog is barking in the empty food bowl, it is time to feed them. But don’t move; wait a few minutes, do something else, and then come back and pour the food so the dog doesn’t get hungry or associate barking with food.
Always remember not to scold your pet. Dogs don’t understand scolding and still think it’s us paying attention to them. The key to all this is to ignore the dog and what they want until they stop barking and then give them attention and contentment.
Of course, the best approach is to teach them other ways to remind them of these physiological needs. For example, hang something on the door handle. Once they touch it, it means they want to leave. Also, have them push food and water bowls to express the need to eat and drink. In short, we have to find a way for our dogs to communicate with us without barking.
Separation Anxiety/Compulsive Barking:
Treating separation anxiety and excessive barking can be difficult, and professional assistance from a veterinarian behaviorist or a trained applied animal behaviorist is recommended.
Conclusion
Medications are frequently needed for dogs with these issues to help them cope while they learn new, acceptable behaviors.