Shrill puppy yelps or a baritone of an older dog, barking is an annoyance that must be controlled and you will soon realize that. A dog barks because that is its natural instinct, but there are things that you can do to put an end to this behavior.

There are different things to keep in mind when you are working to stop your dogs barking behavior. There are many different methods and you may have to try more than one. It just takes time and work to find what works.

First, make sure that you know why your dog is barking. Dogs never bark for no reason, though the reasons that they do bark might surprise you. First and perhaps most useful to owners is the alert bark, which tells you that they see something or someone strange or alarming.

For most dogs, puppies especially, barking is a way to get attention. Some dogs will also bark when startled. However, the most common reason for barking is simply out of boredom or due to feeling lonely. A dog often barks to draw people to him because he feels alone. A bored dog barks just to let off some energy.

What kind of barker is your dog? Have they always barked? If you have recently adopted an older dog, this might be something that you need to think about. The old adage of not being able tot each an old dog new tricks is actually not true, but it does take some patience.

It is easy to use shouting to stop the barking, but this is not a good solution. You will just confuse the dog. He may see it as a game or even be afraid which can lead to more barking. A better idea is to choose a simple word to use as a command. Something like enough or quiet can be good choices. Everyone in the family should use the word to stop barking. You can also spritz the dog with water which may help him to associate barking with an unpleasant experience which can stop it.

Are you spending enough time with your dog? When your dog barks, make sure that you have enough time to spend with him. Don’t call him when he is barking, go out to him. Dogs who are happy and secure in their family environment are much less inclined to bark and you’ll soon realize that if you can make sure that your dog gets routine interaction with you and your family, he will be much more content. Remember that your dog is a pack animal, and that pack animals tend to be fairly unnerved when they are on their own. It does not feel natural to them, and it makes sense that they would be nervous.

When you just can not figure out why your dog is barking then you should contact a veterinarian or animal specialist. They can lead you to answers that might not be obvious. You can stop your dog from barking, just be patient.