Barking is as natural to dogs as talking is to humans. But, when our canine friends don’t stop barking, it causes distress in the home and annoys the neighbors. If you are looking for solutions to get your dog to quieten down, understanding the root cause of the incessant barking is halfway to solving the problem.

Dogs bark if they see or sense danger when they anxious, lonely or bored, and when excited and playful. Pay close attention to the tone of the bark to identify which technique to apply to help your dog calm down.

1. Establish Consistency

Like children, dogs also need routine and consistency from you, which provides stability. Behaving erratically every time your dog sets off increases their anxiety as they don’t know what to expect from you. When you find the technique that best works for your dog, apply it consistently and loving to reduce unnecessary barking.

2. Stay Calm

It’s instinctive to yell at a dog to stop barking but what’s happening is that the dog thinks you’re barking with him. This encourages the dog to get a reaction that acts as a stimulus. And, the worst thing to do is hit a dog. Physical harm is cruel against a defenseless animal and they will only learn to fear you.

3. Observe Triggers

Take note of when or what causes persistent barking. Watch your dog’s behavior closely through different times of the day. They could be barking at sunset, or at the moon or people passing by. Identify what’s agitating them and minimize their exposure to the perceived threat by closing the blinds or simply taking them indoors to settle down.

4. Exercise

Dogs of all shapes and sizes need some sort of exercise. A daily walk with your dog is an opportunity to give them your attention and for them to burn off energy. Restless and bored dogs are more prone to incessant barking than those that are well-exercised. Dogs that don’t get any form of exercise could start becoming aggressive as well.

5. Command Training

Any type of dog training helps instill good doggy behavior. Even basic command training at home will give you a good footing to work from. Start training them as young as possible to learn the ‘Quiet’ and ‘Speak’ command. When they first bark, say ‘Speak’ and when they stop, say ‘Quiet’ so they learn to associate the commands with their behavior.

6. Distraction

If you have a dog that barks at the slightest sound, then employing a distraction technique could help ease their reaction to noise. If a sound triggers your canine’s yapping, make a different but gentle noise to get their attention. Whether you turn the radio up a bit, ring a bell, or start singing, it should help distract your dog from barking.

7. Rewarding Rover

Going through the time and effort to train your dog will reap rewards for both of you. But, during training, it’s important to give positive reinforcement and dish out a reward when your dog gets it right. If they keep listening and get nothing in return, it will diminish the effects of your training.

8. Dog Toys

It’s highly recommended to invest in a few good dog toys. You can use different toys to interact with your dog and toys to leave with your furry friend when you not around. Toys alleviate boredom, provide mental stimulation, and discourage negative behavior. Additionally, chewing toys are healthy as they exercise the jaw muscles and encourage dental health.

9. Environment

If you can’t seem to pinpoint the source of your dog’s yapping, have a look around your environment to check if there are any elements that are causing a disturbance. Perhaps a cat lives next door and is taunting your dog, or the dog waste isn’t picked up often enough. One would be amazed at the big difference a small change could make.

10. Attention-seeking

Assess your routine and journal the amount of time you actually spend with your dog. You may be surprised to discover that you’re out more than in, leaving the dog alone for extended periods. Take your dog with if you can and set aside quality doggy time to ensure Fido isn’t barking just to get your love and attention.

11. Diet and Health

If nothing seems obvious in your dog’s surroundings that could be upsetting him, review his diet and health condition, and have their sight and hearing checked. Make sure your dog always has access to freshwater and is fed daily. Maybe a diet change has caused an upset or they could need a diet change to correct a health issue.

12. Ignore Your Dog

The ‘ignoring’ approach may not work with some dogs but if you’re at your wit’s end, then it won’t hurt to try. When your dog sets off barking, turn your back and walk away. As hard as it may be to ignore the noise, hang in there until it stops. Only when it’s quiet, reward your dog with a treat or positive attention.

13. Collar Devices

There are several devices on the market that provide a vibration or sound intended to deter or stop the dog from barking. The effectiveness of these devices varies from animal to animal so do your homework before investing in an anti-bark mechanism. Do not use devices that shock or hurt the dog.

14. Animal Behaviorist

If you feel you’re getting nowhere and your dog isn’t responding to your efforts and techniques, you may want to consider dog therapy with an animal behaviorist. They are experts at reading the most subtle gestures in canine body language. Perhaps they will spot something that you missed.

15. Medication

Medication can be used to reduce anxiety and stress in highly strung animals. However, this should be the last resort if you’ve exhausted every avenue to get your dog to stop incessant barking and not listening. If your dog is put on meds, ensure they still get exercise and a healthy balanced diet.

Please share these tips with your friends or family members so everyone can benefit