Dogs bark at people for a variety of different reasons, whether because they are excited, frustrated that they can't greet the person, or even worried or uncomfortable about another's presence. If your dog is barking while in your front yard, they may feel protective of their home or be warning others to stay away.
The Quiet Method
Once your dog starts barking in the presence of a stranger, let them bark a few times. Then, gently hold their muzzle and say, “Quiet.” Avoid shouting, as that produces negative reinforcement. Take your hands off their muzzle. If they remain quiet, reward them with a treat.
Some dogs bark at people or other animals to gain attention or rewards, like food, toys or play. Your dog might be barking in greeting if he barks when he sees people or other dogs and his body is relaxed, he's excited and his tail is wagging. Dogs who bark when greeting people or other animals might also whine.
intransitive verb. If you bark at someone, you shout at them aggressively in a loud, rough voice. I didn't mean to bark at you. Synonyms: shout, snap, yell, snarl More Synonyms of bark.
When a dog barks at strangers, it is generally an arousal response as a way to communicate an alert, a way to show fear, or as an act of protection. This bark can be reinforced by your behavior, by other dogs barking, or can even be self-reinforced as dogs will wind themselves up.
Growling seems like an aggressive act. After all, it usually precedes a bite. But, at its core, growling is about communication. Dogs growl to indicate they're unhappy, uncomfortable, or even fearful about a particular situation.
Fear. If your dog typically growls at strangers, specific people, such as children or men, or when the dog is in an unfamiliar place, the growls are most likely due to fear. A dog may also growl in situations that trigger fears, such as during thunderstorms or fireworks displays.
If you see a dog who is barking, pulling or lunging on the leash on the trail, it doesn't necessarily mean the dog is aggressive. What is this? Reactive dog behavior occurs when a dog overreacts to certain stimuli, such as other dogs or people, and is often a result of fear or insecurity.
If your dog is emitting 2-4 barks with pauses in between (frequency & duration) in a low pitch (pitch), this typically means a “Call the pack, there is danger” message from your little one. He notices something strange going on, is playing close attention to it, and is scared that the pack is in danger.
When your dog is barking, say “Quiet” in a calm, firm voice. Wait until they stop barking, even if it's just to take a breath, then praise them and give them a treat. Just be careful to never reward them while they are barking.
Robert Mugabe Quotes - If your own dog starts barking at you, know that someone else is feeding it better! | Facebook.
If your dog demands your attention by barking or jumps up on you, you might have seen the training advice to ignore these unwanted behaviors. This is well-intended but incomplete advice – if you only ignore the behavior, your dog will probably never learn to stop barking, jumping, or pulling.
Stay calm, and back away slowly. Instead of screaming, or yelling at the dog, speak to him in a soothing tone as you slowly back away. Don't make direct eye contact. Staring in the eyes of an aggressive dog may prompt him to attack.
Teach your dog to speak and then use a done cue. Reward the quiet after 3 to 10 seconds. Put your dog's bark on cue, and then never cue it.
Dogs appear to enjoy barking, and they do so for various reasons. They bark when they want something, when they say "hello," when they are having fun, when they are startled or alarmed, when they are defending their territory or threatening someone, when they are frustrated, and when they hear other dogs barking.
Barking – A dog may bark as a warning, an invitation, a call of distress, or just because it's happy. There are many reasons for the bark, but it always means your dog is communicating something. If your dog is distressed or fearful, it may sound off in a repetitive high-pitched tone.
The signs of a dominant and aggressive dog include staring; excessive low-range barking; snarling; growling and snapping; standing tall; holding ears erect; and/or carrying tail high and moving it stiffly from side to side.
If you have an excessive barker inside the home, you may be tempted to banish them to the backyard to bark it out. Don't do it. It's rude to your neighbors and makes you look like a bad pet parent. And, if your dog is already outside and they begin to bark incessantly, bring them in or go outside with them.
Dogs do not bark to irritate or startle or dominate people. They bark because they do not know what else to do to in situations that cause stress, fear, anxiety, boredom or too much excitement. Dogs have different priorities and interests than humans.
Smelling faint scents and forming associations is one way dogs might not like a person. Research also shows that dogs can smell different human emotions through changes to chemosignals, such as adrenaline, sweat and body odor. And when it comes to their humans, they can determine if fear produced sweat.
They Dislike the Way they Act
Dogs can tell if someone is being rude or unhelpful, and if they notice some behavior they do not like, they might not warm up to a person very easily. This is especially true if a new person is rude to the dog's owner, which feels like a personal slight to your canine companion.
Bottom Line: When your dog growls at you I recommend that you listen to what your dog is saying. Immediately stop doing whatever it is that you're doing and move away.
Many dogs are fearful around people they don't know well. Some people automatically assume these dogs have been abused in the past. Usually, this is NOT the case. Most of the time, if a dog fears strangers, she has simply been under-socialized to them.
Reassure Your Pet!
If you are worried about your pet's behaviour around strangers, keep them on a lead when walking. If gradual socialisation and training doesn't work, and your dog continues to bark or growl at other people, you may need to seek help from a qualified behaviourist.