Just About Jacks

Dogs bark for communication purposes.  Some breeds bark more than other breeds but all dogs bark at times.  It is when a dog barks excessively and without what seems to be a good reason that everyone gets annoyed.  We all want communication from our dogs but nobody wants a dog that barks and barks for no apparent reason.

There are many reasons why a dog will bark.  If your dog is bored because he is in the house or the same yard everyday he may start barking to entertain himself.  Dogs love social stimulation and interacting with others. Try to incorporate more playtimes or take more walks.  This may stop your dog if he is barking excessively because of boredom.

Dogs may also be barking excessively because they become nervous or frightened.  When a dog is properly socialized they will be calm and more relaxed around various people and in various situations but if a dog is not used to these new things he may bark from anxiety.  Train your dog to be calmer by taking him to various places and around different people.  Give him a food reward while he is quiet and well behaved.  This usually works well as the dog will start associating the pleasant treat with the new situation rather than nervousness.

Dogs will attempt to get your attention when they want something by barking.  You want your dog to communicate with you but you do not want this type of barking to become out of control.  If you respond to his barking by giving him what he wants he will continue to bark every time.  Try to reinforce other communication behaviors by using praise and treats.

Separation anxiety can cause a dog to start barking excessively.  This is a problem for you as it is disruptive to neighbors and others and you are not even there.  Try to get your dog over separation anxiety early on in his training when he is just a puppy.  You can crate him whenever you leave and he will adjust to you being gone in his own space.  Do not make a big deal out of leaving your dog home alone but just slip out quietly.  He will be more likely to behave until you get back if he doesn’t really know that you are gone.

Dogs bark when they want to protect the ones that they love.  This is usually considered to be a good thing unless your dog is barking excessively to protect you from the mailman (or mail person!) every single day!  In that case try to distract your dog with a treat or some playtime.  You can also introduce your dog to the mailman.  If he becomes familiar with the people who come by most often then he is less likely to bark excessively.  If your dog barks for protection though, you should be grateful as someday you may find yourself in a situation where you need that.

You can train your dog not to bark excessively.  Dog training videos can offer you some tips but usually more socialization and more playtimes help a lot to curb excessive barking.  Your dog is barking for a reason though, so it is wise to find out the reason why and adjust your training to that.

If your dog only barks for proper communication you and others like you will enjoy your dog more.  Start training your dog not to bark excessively while he is just a puppy and by the time he is grown up you will know that if he is barking it is for a good reason.