Holly’s Den

Fostering Peaceful Packs for Humans & Dogs

Dog Training - Barking Solutions

The most common reasons dogs bark are to sound an alarm when someone approaches their territory, to seek attention, to greet friends, and to express fear, anxiety, discomfort, boredom and frustration.  Although the noise can become a nuisance, keep in mind that barking is one of the only ways your dog can signal she has a problem that needs your attention. Management and training approaches depend on which type of barking you need to address, but responses to avoid include:

1. Putting any type of bark collar on your dog without dealing with the underlying causes of the barking.

2. Soothing your dog as she barks, since that inadvertently rewards the behavior.

3. Shouting at your dog, since that will increase her excitement or stress and make her bark more—why keep doing what doesn’t work?

What will work is formulating an action plan tailored to meet your dog’s needs. Begin by assessing when and why your dog seems to be barking, then match the reasons with the appropriate solutions below!

Territorial Barking 

Most of us welcome our dogs’ instinctual barking to alert us to strangers or unusual sounds, yet don’t want this to turn into non stop barking at the morning garbage truck!  Fortunately, you can train your dog to alarm bark for a limited time and then respond to a cue for “Quiet.”  When the doorbell rings or the garbage truck comes by, allow your dog to bark about three times before you praise and acknowledge his warning by saying,  “OK, good dog!”  Then say “Quiet” and interrupt the barking by holding a tasty treat under his nose.  (If you hold the treat in your closed fist, holding up your fist can eventually become your hand signal for “Quiet”). When he has been quiet for several seconds, give the treat.  Keep repeating this routine until all you will have to say is your cue word, “Quiet,” as you hold up your closed fist, to get a quiet response.  Continue to randomly reward his good responses with praise and an occasional treat.  For faster progress, set up practice sessions and recruit a helper to ring your bell and make noises by the door.

If ”watchdog” barking becomes excessive, you can also cancel his sentry duties—during the day close the blinds and leave the radio on to block outside noises. When you are home, keep him on leash and move him away from whatever distraction is triggering his barking, then reward him for lying quietly beside you; at night have him sleep in a crate.

Solutions for Barking at Specific Stimuli

Some of the herding breeds as well as the terrier breeds usually make good watchdogs because they are prone to bark at both noises and visual stimuli.   If your dog is overly reactive to specific sounds such as the telephone or door bell, desensitize your dog to the noise while encouraging her to be Quiet. Introduce the stimulus, for example, a ringing phone, at a very low level that will not arouse or provoke your dog to bark.  For example, if your dog barks when the phone rings, tape the ringing of the phone and play it at a very low volume or have a friend or family member phone you—but have the phone muffled in another room of the house.  Give your dog your Quiet cue and reward her for complying.  Gradually move the phone closer until your dog can be quiet with the phone ringing right next to her. By pairing the Quiet cue behavior with the ringing of the phone, and rewarding it, you will eventually teach your dog that a ringing phone is a cue for Quiet. 

Reactive Barking at Strangers and Other Dogs

The best long term solution is to reactive barking is training your dog to be more comfortable around whatever is triggering his barking.  Gradually desensitize him to unfamiliar people or other dogs by exposing him to them at whatever distance is necessary to avoid provoking his arousal, as you also condition him to associate their sight and presence with pleasant things such as treats.  A good place to work on these kinds of controlled sightings is the parking lot adjacent to a pet store.  Meanwhile avoid uncontrolled situations that stimulate his reactivity.  If your dog is reactive to strangers and other dogs, walk him when and where you are not likely to encounter them.  Otherwise, acclimating him to a head halter will allow you to control his barking.  If he is also reactive to visitors at home, bring him to the door on leash, then cue him to “Watch” you (give you attention with eye contact), or to Sit, Down or Hand-Target your palm with his nose.  This gives him another action to focus on, while the body mechanics required make it harder for him to continue barking.  You may also confine him in a crate or safe room until you admit your visitor, then bring him out after your visitor is settled. 

Barking for Attention

If your dog demands your attention by barking, this is one of the times when ignoring her is actually the solution of choice!  Consistently turn your back and withdraw eye contact the microsecond the barking starts, thus teaching her that her nuisance barking makes a good thing (your attention) go away.  As soon as she winds down,  say “Quiet,” and give her a treat.  Soon anticipation of her treat will prompt her to cut short her barking, since she only gets your praise and the treat after she stops.   Be sure to gradually extend the time she has to be quiet before rewarding her! 

Crate barking and whining respond well to a similar approach.  Ignore the barking and praise and reward your dog as soon as she is quiet!   Gradually extend the time that your dog has to remain quiet in order to get a treat or freedom.

Barking in Class—Bring a homemade “peanut butter cup” that your dog can lick or use a can of squeeze cheese as a distraction.  Use the treat to get her attention, then cue her to do an alternative behavior.

Boredom Barking

Is your dog lonely and bored?  Being excluded from the family and spending too much time alone, especially outdoors, may result in loneliness, boredom and hyper-vigilant sentry duty.  If your dog is barking because he’s alone all day and his basic needs for companionship, exercise and mental stimulation are not being met, the only solution is to develop a plan to provide a better, more stimulating life. This plan may include training so that you can allow your outside dog to spend part of the time indoors, as well as more walks, interactive toys, and regularly scheduled play/training sessions.

Encourage your dog to enjoy chew toys—Chew toys help to relieve anxiety and boredom and give your dog something to do besides barking.  Among the best are kongs stuffed with some of your dog’s daily allowance of kibble, plus some healthy extras to make it more special such as cheese, meat, peanut butter, etc.  There are many indestructible chew toys available so make sure the ones you choose are safe. (See separate handouts on “Bringing Outside Dogs Indoors” and “Enrichment Activities”). 

Preventing a Barking Problem— Be Proactive About Rewarding Quiet

Keeping in mind that dogs do what works, notice and reward your “quiet” dog with attention, petting, play, and treats  BEFORE she starts to bark about something.  This will make it clear that you are rewarding “Quiet” as an independent behavior,  rather than as part of a  behavior chain that goes:  Bark, be quiet, get a reward, bark, be quiet, get a reward, etc.  Being proactive with positive reinforcement for Quiet behavior will cause the behaviors that you LIKE to become stronger and more entrenched!

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Holly's Den
Dog and Puppy Training
Houston / Sugar Land TX
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© Copyright 2006 – Beverly Hebert