Reasons for excessive barking include: boredom. separation anxiety. fear.
Examples of excessive barking can include: frequent intermittent barking over lengthy periods; sustained barking over more than a minute or two; barking early in the morning or late at night.
First of all – it is not a natural or healthy behavior for a dog to bark for prolonged periods of time. Barking is an expression of excitement or stress. While short bursts of excitement and stress are normal and not a concern, this state should not continue for hours.
Be Clear and Concise. Be clear on your feelings and how the barking is affecting your daily activities. This would be a great time to show them the bark log that you created. Don't threaten or make accusations, this can make your neighbor hostile and unwilling to cooperate.
If your dog is barking at you excessively, ignore your dog's barking and reward what you do want – the quiet moments between barking, engaging with toys etc. When your dog stops barking, praise and reward your dog. While your dog is quiet, engage your dog in play or practice a trick.
A popular method of curtailing excessive barking is teaching the “quiet” command. Use a calm, firm voice to tell your dog to be “quiet” and positively reinforce correct behavior with treats and affection.
Dogs can get tired of barking, especially when it's excessive. And while both your pup and you may be exhausted by their barking, you shouldn't let it continue with no explanation until they call it quits. It's important to figure out what triggered the barking in case an underlying condition is a cause.
If he's a puppy and this attention seeking behavior is relatively new, then training it out of him may take just a week or so. If this behavior has been years in the making, then you may need up to three weeks before you finally get peace and quiet.
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.
Empathize and apologize for your dog barking.
Tell him you're sorry he's being disturbed by barking. Reassure him that you don't want your dog to be a nuisance, and you want to help find a solution to his concerns. Ask him to bear with you while you work on the problem.
Anxious barking is caused by anxiety or fear, and often happens when a dog sees a “trigger” such as a stranger, another dog, or a motorcycle. To stop anxious barking, you must identify the source of the anxiety and either eliminate it (if possible) or train the dog to accept it.
Aggression in dogs commonly includes body language or threat displays such as a hard stare, growling, barking, snarling, lunging, snapping, and/or biting. Aggression can be a normal form of communication in dogs, yet the display of aggression toward a person or animal is often considered undesirable or problematic.
Ultrasonic sounds travel in a straight line much like the light beam of a flashlight. Setup the device so it is pointing toward the area where the dog is barking. Ultrasonic sound will not pass through solid objects, so place the device high enough that the sound will pass over any obstacle, such as a fence or shrubs.
Ignore the barking
If you believe your dog is barking simply to get your attention, try to ignore them. Regular exercise and the use of puzzle toys can keep your dog occupied during a work call or when you're watching TV.
A dog whistle can be used in a variety of different ways. It is most commonly paired with recall training, as it is more distinct and discreet than a human's voice. However, the dog whistle can be used to stop barking, train basic obedience, or even modify specific behaviors.
Attention Barking
This very persistent, high pitched bark is often directed towards the owner/members of the household and/or other dogs. It is exactly what it sounds like. Your dog trying to get or “demand” your attention, food, play, walk, outside etc.
During your puppy's socialization period, which lasts from about 6 to12 weeks of age, she may bark at anything unfamiliar, including people and noises. Your puppy may repeat this behavior at a later period, starting at about four to six months of age.
This most often happens between 5 months and 1 year, depending on the size and breed of dog.
Excessive barking is usually an indicator of underlying issue(s) such as pain, fear or distress, the presence of trigger(s) (e.g., passers-by, other dogs barking) and/or failure to meet the dogs' mental and physical needs (e.g., insufficient exercise, mental stimulation and/or social interaction).
Dogs may bark when calling out to other dogs, expressing emotion, being territorial or when trying to grab their owner's attention. Any noise, no matter how slight, can stimulate a barking response – for example rustling leaves, a banging window, lightning or thunder, or a ring of the doorbell.
Yelling at your dog does not work because it will just get him more stressed or it will only increase his energy level and how excited he is about the situation. Instead, your Bark Busters dog trainer can teach you how to use a calm yet firm voice to refocus your dog and to teach the desired behavior.
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.
Territorial barking is similar to alert barking. Your dog is responding to the presence of someone or something near their home. Territorial barking intends to protect the area and make the "intruder" leave the premises.