Some Good reasons for Dog Barking

My neighbor’s dogs barked all night-close enough and loud enough to keep me awake. There was a full moon out, and so were the area’s coyotes-yipping and howling and disturbing all the dogs that live around her. My own dogs barked when the coyotes first started in, but stayed quiet the rest of the night after I quieted them with a command. Unfortunately for me, my neighbors must be the world’s deepest sleepers, because I have never heard them quiet their dogs at night.

As I thought about the all night barking, it was obvious that even though dogs may start their barking for a good reason sometimes, when it is out of control it is a problem just like any other form of barking.I felt like the owners were at least as much at fault as their dogs-if not more-for not correcting the problem.

Even though our dogs may have a good reason to start barking, as their owner it is my job to keep it under control. There are some very good reasons my dogs will bark, and I would not want to change that.

Check out these more acceptable reasons for your dog to start his barking. You can see that these reasons for barking are just part of a dog’s communication and are not dog barking problems derived from any behavior problems.

• One very good reason for your dog to bark is to warn you that something (perhaps a stranger or another dog) is coming your way. This type of warning is something you want to have from your dog, and so you will not want to discourage it. Given that, you should still be able to quiet him with a command to stop. For instance, if your dog starts barking because he sees  someone getting out of a car in front of your house,  and you can see the person is not of any danger, you should be able to stop your dog’s barking  with a simple command. On the other hand, if it is someone you want to discourage from coming onto your property (for example,maybe some over-zealous religious types), well then, you can let the barking continue a little longer. Protection barking is “good barking”-just make sure you can always control and stop the barking quickly with a command. If your dog is barking a lot for other reasons then you do have problem barking needing correction.

• A dog will bark when he is very happy and excited about something that is going on. I personally enjoy playing a lot with my dogs, and their barking at me and at each other while we play is just part of the fun. That is just the dog’s way of saying he is having a great time, and wants more of the same. When we are playing I only will quiet them down in the case of one of them getting a little carried away with the excitement.  Some playful barking is jut fine, but when one of them gets too into the barking, that has to be stopped. Don’t let one of your dogs get into continuous barking while playing, or that could reinforce a bad habit of barking too much.
• Often dogs will start barking when their master comes home. This type of excitement barking is typical, and not a problem if it is limited to a few greeting barks. A couple of greeting barks is how your dog is saying “welcome home” and I like to be greeted by my dogs. If the dogs keep the barking up ,even after you’ve greeted them back, then it is not such a “good barking” anymore. That puts this behavior onto the unacceptable list because the dog doesn’t immediately stop barking after saying “Hi”.

• When my Lab wants some playtime, she will let me know via a bark or two, as she brings me a ball to throw.  However, some dogs will try to use their barking as a way of bullying you into playing with them. My dog had me pretty well trained through her bullying, so I know what this is like first hand. this is not a good thing, because as the Alpha dog, you must be the one to decide when playtime starts, not the dog. If you let the dog think it is the boss instead of you, you will make all other training more difficult. If your dog is bullying you, don’t let it, because it is important that you are always viewed as the boss in the relationship-not the other way around.

So, you can see, all the above forms of barking are socially acceptable (when controlled)-whether because the barking stops very quickly when there is no reason for it, or because the dog is protecting you. However, most of the other reasons dogs bark create a disturbance and should be corrected.

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How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Dog and barking are a natural behavior. It’s instinctive. But, many owners become frustrated when their dogs won’t stop barking. Understanding why your dog barks will help in your training it to curb that behavior. Dogs usually bark as a warning to others. They may be warning you or another animal. Unfortunately, dogs often don’t receive the assurance that their warning has been understood. So, they continue barking. We will explain and show you how you can train your dog to control the excessive barking behavior.

Consistent Reactions

Develop a consistent routine when your dog barks. If you’ve acknowledged the reason for its barking, communicate that. Say, “good dog” or something similar. This lets your dog know that you understand. It knows that its job has been fulfilled. At times, dog owners do not communicate that to their pets. Because of this, the dog is not awear they they should cease. You can teach your dog to stop barking by saying the same thing each time (“good dog”).

Sometimes, dogs bark because they’re lonely or bored. Again, consistency is the solution. Show your dog that you won’t tolerate unnecessary barking. Don’t send your dog mixed signals. If it’s lonely or bored, spend time with your dog. Help it get some exercise so it exhausts some of its energy. The key is to be consistent in your reactions to your dog’s barking.

Role-Playing

A lot of owners have unwittingly trained their dogs to bark when they leave the house. The dog experiences feelings of abandonment. Pretend you’re leaving your home. Tell your dog “watch the house.” Then, let the dog see you leave your house. If they start to bark, quickly re-enter the house and give a short command “No”!” Over time, your dog will learn that you consider its barking when you leave unacceptable behavior. Your dog will abide by your wishes.

Enjoying The Peace

Dogs that bark excessively can be frustrating for their owners. Unfortunately, many owners simply throw up their hands in desperation without taking action. Consistent behavior in your training methods is how you get your dog to stop barking. Take the time to train your dog. This investment will benefit you will peace an quiet in the future. Remember to treat your dog for good  behavior, a odor free bully stick or other dog treat is a nice and comforting reward.