What sound does the dog make? BARK!
Dogs bark for various reasons. This is their only language, and unfortunately, we can’t understand exactly what they’re trying to say.
But we can at least get the gist and take proper action to however their barks sound. Read on to find out how to understand how your dog barks.
Learning About Your Dog By His Bark
We love to hear our dogs make some noise, but obviously, no one wants a dog that barks all day long. But before you can find out how to control excessive barking, you need to know the type of barking you’re dealing with.
These are the different types of barks you should learn more about:
- Requesting
Dogs learned that when they bark, they can get the things they want, whether it’s food, attention, to open a door, or whatever they have in mind. If you believe this is why your dog is barking, you need to teach him that barking won’t work to get what he wants.
Do this by ignoring your dog when he barks, which will have him realize he needs to find another way to request what he wants and needs. Don’t give in and only give him the attention or item he needs once he is quiet for a few minutes.
- Fear
You will know if your dog is barking at something or someone from fear of it, and this needs to be changed immediately through a technique called counter-conditioning.
Grab his favorite treats and slowly introduce your dog to the thing or person he is afraid of. The thing or person needs to be a bit far from your dog, but close enough that your dog is aware but won’t react.
Begin giving your dog treats as the scary thing goes closer, then stop giving them treats when it leaves. Then, let the scary thing come closer again, going even nearer to your dog as you give treats. As you practice this regularly, your dog will slowly see the scary thing as something positive instead, since he associates it with treats.
He may also be trying to alarm you of an intruder within their territory. If this is the case, you will need to teach him the ‘quiet’ command.
- Boredom
When your dog is left alone, he will most likely bark out of boredom. When this happens, make sure that you increase his physical and mental stimulation.
You can take him out for walks or play with him to reduce his boredom. If you’re usually out and he barks all day long, you can purchase toys from stores like Peggasus Pets, which offer pet toys that help hone your dog’s skills. It’s also best to leave a radio or television on while you’re gone for some form of entertainment.
Your dog may also bark from separation anxiety when alone. If this is the case, it’s best to consult a veterinarian and behaviorist to help overcome this issue.
Hopefully, you learned more about your dog’s barking and know what you can do to help them behave better. Keep this information in mind as you care and train your dog better today.