We will never post without your permission, and we'll always keep your information private.
Psst Are you a brand, artist, shelter, or dog looking to get on Dogly?
Click Here:
In the previous guide we discussed the different types of dog barking behavior and the function of each - from alarm barking to attention barking to fear barking and frustration induced barking.
We also talked about how completely normal it is for dogs to share this sometimes loud and occasionally obnoxious behavior known as dog barking. And how we can use some targeted management and enrichment in their everyday routines to prevent and minimize this natural (but less than welcome) dog behavior.
Note for fear/frustration barkers - If your dog barks excessively, lunges, growls on leash at specific triggers, (dogs, people, bikes, cats, etc) due to fear/frustration, these exercises can be beneficial, but you’ll also find more information specifically related to this type of barking and how to stop a dog barking out of fear or frustration throughout Dogly's Reactivity Channel.
**plan-panel
This one goes out to all our dogs who want to make known all the things they see that they feel warrant our attention. Our unpredictable alert-barking dogs are on a mission. “Look mom, there’s that same bird I told you about yesterday that’s sitting in that tree outside being weird!”
These dogs bark at variable times when there's a perceived threat depending on what pops up in their world, making it frustrating and difficult to get them to stop barking entirely. Alerting us with their heads-up dog bark is normal, and we do want them to use their voices to communicate, but many dog owners want to reduce the level of the excessive barking.
A helpful bark or two will work just fine, no need to yell at us for 20 minutes.
**follow-panel
When you know your dog has a pattern of barking at specific triggers (doorbell, people/other dogs walking by the house, television, etc) you can set up controlled interactions with these triggers to desensitize and counter condition your dog as well as creating alternate behaviors.
1) Using a treat, lure your dog onto the "place."
2) The moment all four paws are on the place, mark with a click or “yes!” and drop a treat on the mat.
3) Continue to click and treat every few seconds if your dog chooses to stay on the mat (no matter what position your dog is in). This is beginning to reinforce a natural desire “stay."
If your dog chooses to “sit” on his/her own we can offer a “click or yes” and extra reward. If your dog chooses to move into a “down” offer a click or yes and an additional extra reward. If your dog is choosing to stay standing, that is totally fine too! You will continue to reward your dog as long as he/she is staying on the mat/bed/etc.
We are simply starting by acknowledging our dogs for choosing to stay on this spot. For more on place training, check out this guide.
4) After several treats we will toss a single treat off of the bed to prompt the dog to remove himself/herself from the place.
5) Wait for a few seconds to see if your dog chooses to get back onto place. If your dog stands on the mat, mark that behavior immediately and reward generously with treats.
If after a few seconds, your dog doesn’t go to the place, simply lure again and continue to mark and reward every few seconds he/she stays on the place.
6) After several repetitions and quick returns to the place, you can begin to say the cue word "place" to prompt your dog and guiding with your hand (with or without lure depending on your dog’s reliability).
**plan-panel
To set up your teaching practice, find a YouTube video with a doorbell sound similar to the one you have at your house.
The desensitization process is great for building your dog's ability to be less stressed about certain noises (thunder, fireworks, television, etc) as well as to build impulse control for compulsive barking.
Of course, in a real situation we can’t always anticipate when the doorbell will ring, so I also like to teach an alternate behavior for a barking dog to respond with after he/she has heard the doorbell.
In this case, the doorbell rings, then we ask our dogs to go to their “place." Over time with practice, the doorbell becomes a cue to "place" rather than to charge the front door and bombard the guest or delivery person with barking.
**channel-panel
Work with your dogs one at a time with this exercise until both are individually consistent.
Ideally one would start focusing on rewarding your dog in place while the second person answers the door. If the guest is not entering (like the mailman), practice your dog staying in place while you take your time answering the door.
Good ones to try are “Okay,” “Free,” “Break,” or “Release.” But just find one that works for you and be consistent with it - and use only for release purposes.
If you are not in a position to give your dog attention (cooking dinner, reading a book, working, zoom call), but you know your pup is getting a little crazy and needs something to do...
If you have a crazed attention barker, chances are your pup is missing something….
It's likely your dog might not be getting enough mental and physical stimulation. Physical exercise, decompression walks, enrichment and training opportunities daily will lower the desire for your dog to get your attention.
Anytime you see your dog lying around like the chill dog you’d like him or her to be, reward heavily. The more you reinforce those calm behaviors the more they will happen!
All in all, the key to helping your dog stay calm and quiet is to practice patience and consistency when it comes to their training. Give your dog plenty of opportunities to practice correct behaviors so that he/she can learn what you expect them to do! With some effort and dedication, you will soon see a calmer, quieter dog.
Now that you know how to manage and prevent barking, continue to the next guide to decipher your dog's bark. Or check out the other guides in the Barking Channel on demand barking or attention seeking barking and alarm barking.
If you have any questions, just ask the Advocates in our Community Discussion in the Barking Channel!
Or if you ever need more personalized dog training guidance, please reach out!
DISCLAIMER: The content of this website and community is based on the research, expertise, and views of each respective author. Information here is not intended to replace your one-on-one relationship with your veterinarian, but as a sharing of information and knowledge to help arm dog parents to make more informed choices. We encourage you to make health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with your vet. In cases of distress, medical issues, or emergency, always consult your veterinarian.