Barking is normal canine behaviour. Unfortunately, dogs are often allowed or encouraged to bark early in life. Once praised for the act, dogs will soon bark at normal everyday neighbourhood activities.
Do not pay any attention to any barking unless the event is exceptional or one that you really want the dog to bark at. If owners encourage their dogs to bark at minor events, a normal barker is likely to become a problem barker.
- Do not teach your dog to bark for titbits or to go outside.
Never shout at your dog when he is barking as this increases tension and sometimes encourages the dog to bark more because you are "barking".
- Start by calmly performing some dominance exercises e.g. "Come, Sit, Stay" routines whenever the dog shows signs of becoming anxious or begins barking.
- Some dogs bark through isolation, because dogs are highly sociable animals. Let the dog share your life with the family and meet people and other dogs with regular exercise.
- Some dogs bark for attention, reprimands or abuse. To these dogs any attention is better than none. If the owner's and neighbour’s nerves can stand it, the barking will extinguish if ignored .
- Some owners have had success with devices such as the Aboistop which is a small box worn on the dogs collar, containing citronella. Each time the dog barks the device triggers a spray of citronella which the dog dislikes. This device is claimed to reduce annoying intermittent barking but not to eliminate territorial barking.
For real problem dogs, you may need to seek the help of an animal behaviour expert:
Ph 1300 650 739
Trevor Crittenden (a Delta Society Dog trainer)
He can be contacted as follows if you live in the Wollongong region
Mobile: 0409 9810 019
Ph 1800 067 710