The person that made up the saying “his bark is worse than his bite” was
obviously the neighbour of a very loud raucous canine. Most barking dogs are
usually trying to tell you something, get your attention or are lonely and need
some companionship. Some breeds of dogs rarely bark at all, while some are
“natural barkers”. You must be mindful of this when choosing a breed of pup to
be your loyal companion, otherwise the relationship could be doomed before it
has even has a chance to start.
If you happen to be the owner of a barking dog, you must take some time to listen to the different barks and act accordingly. All dogs have different barks that mean different things to them. A low pitched growl or bark might mean there’s danger or an intruder, while a medium pitched bark might mean a greeting and happiness to see you. Over time you can develop a good “barking ear” and figure out just what your dog is trying to say to you rather than just yelling at him to be quiet. Remember, acceptable levels of barking should be appreciated and even praised; this is the only form of communication that you dog has, and if he has something to tell you, you should listen to him! It only becomes a problem when he refuses to stop barking no matter what you do.
There are many ways to stop barking, but most training methods that don’t involve the use of special “anti barking” collars require you to know what the bark means first. If the dog is barking because when you go to work or leave for the day, you need to train him to be without you. It’s usually because most people shower love and affection on their dogs when they are at home; it’s no surprise they bark when they are left alone. They are only yearning for the attention they receive when you are there with them.
If your dog is bored then get him any number of the thousands of doggie toys that are on the market to keep him occupied. He will soon forget to bark when he’s chewing on his new toy. Another method is to try and distract him with an unusual noise or motion. He will be so occupied trying to figure out where it came from or what you’re doing, he will forget to bark.
As with all dog training methods, you must be willing to repeat it over and over without fail, otherwise the dog will only end up confused at the mixed messages he is receiving. These procedures should be practised for 3-4 weeks at a minimum to allow your dog to adjust gradually to the changes that you want him to make.
If you happen to be the owner of a barking dog, you must take some time to listen to the different barks and act accordingly. All dogs have different barks that mean different things to them. A low pitched growl or bark might mean there’s danger or an intruder, while a medium pitched bark might mean a greeting and happiness to see you. Over time you can develop a good “barking ear” and figure out just what your dog is trying to say to you rather than just yelling at him to be quiet. Remember, acceptable levels of barking should be appreciated and even praised; this is the only form of communication that you dog has, and if he has something to tell you, you should listen to him! It only becomes a problem when he refuses to stop barking no matter what you do.
There are many ways to stop barking, but most training methods that don’t involve the use of special “anti barking” collars require you to know what the bark means first. If the dog is barking because when you go to work or leave for the day, you need to train him to be without you. It’s usually because most people shower love and affection on their dogs when they are at home; it’s no surprise they bark when they are left alone. They are only yearning for the attention they receive when you are there with them.
If your dog is bored then get him any number of the thousands of doggie toys that are on the market to keep him occupied. He will soon forget to bark when he’s chewing on his new toy. Another method is to try and distract him with an unusual noise or motion. He will be so occupied trying to figure out where it came from or what you’re doing, he will forget to bark.
As with all dog training methods, you must be willing to repeat it over and over without fail, otherwise the dog will only end up confused at the mixed messages he is receiving. These procedures should be practised for 3-4 weeks at a minimum to allow your dog to adjust gradually to the changes that you want him to make.