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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

When your dog barks know that it is a natural thing for your dog to do. It is their way of speaking and communicating with those around them. You can't stop dog barking completely, just like you will never stop talking. You need to communicate and so do they. Your dog will bark if they need something. This is their way of getting your attention, and telling you when something is wrong. To start off you should always make sure your dog has all their necessities met before reprimanding them for barking.

When your dog is hungry or thirsty they will bark or whine. This is like saying, "Hey I don't feel right. I need help!" Figure out which one they are pointing towards and that will minimize barking. They will also bark for shelter. If it's too hot or cold, they will bark to tell you they are uncomfortable. If your dog is lonely or sick they make bark to let you know that they don't feel well. So it's important to make sure their needs are met before taking further action. They are screaming for help and will get severely confused if you punish them for doing so.

Another form of normal barking is out of sheer frustration. An animal that is confined in a cage or on a leash may be irritated by people walking by and teasing them. This can be resolved by moving the confinement area out of sight of the sidewalk or simply bring the animal inside the house.

Abnormal 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

Limit the praise you give your dog to when they have earned it. Without a clear reason to why they are getting praise, this leads them to believe they can get it whenever they want. Then, they will bark until they get it. At this point I don't care if you are the most patient person in the world sooner or later you will give in to this barking, and only reinforcing their barking habits.

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.

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