Too much barking can be quite annoying for anyone nearby. Unfortunately, you can’t take the bark out of the puppy. Barking is a natural part of communication between dogs, so your puppy will bark at some point in their lives. You can, however, train your puppy to tone down the amount of times they bark […]
Too much barking can be quite annoying for anyone nearby. Unfortunately, you can’t take the bark out of the puppy. Barking is a natural part of communication between dogs, so your puppy will bark at some point in their lives. You can, however, train your puppy to tone down the amount of times they bark at home or in public.
Here are a couple of ways you can decrease your puppy’s barking:
Along with body language, barking is typical canine communication. Your puppy will bark at some point to “talk” to you or another dog. Dogs do not have an organized language like humans do so every bark can mean different things. It may mean that they want to eat, sleep, use the potty, or play with you. Your puppy may also be alerting you about something outside. Find out what’s causing your puppy to bark so much before you initiate training.
When you find out what’s causing your puppy to bark so much, you can begin training (given that it’s not an outside source). Make sure to create and set effective rules that you and your puppy can follow. Be consistent with your rules and methods as well. This means you must react the same whenever your puppy barks so they know that you do not tolerate it. Your other family members should also follow these rules.
Shouting, yelling, and other negative behaviors is ineffective when it comes to training. Sure, it can be super alleviating to vent your frustrations but your puppy may become confused or scared of you. They may even think you are barking with them and will continue their behavior. You should talk to your puppy using a stern yet calm tone. Do not smile or use other body language that may confuse your puppy.
We know that you love running up to your puppy when you come home but if your puppy’s barking, you are encouraging their behavior. You should stay put and thank your puppy by saying “hush.” If your puppy barks, ignore them and leave the room. Whenever your puppy stops barking, praise them and pepper them with kisses. Your furbaby will understand that barking will not earn them rewards, and will stop the behavior.
Your puppy may get bored and begin to bark to get someone’s attention (ahem, you!). You can prevent your puppy’s boredom by giving them a chewy toy or a Kong toy with treats inside. You should also try engaging your puppy in exercise or take your puppy to the dog park. Releasing your furry friend’s energy will tire them out enough so that they may take a long nap!
Every puppy is unique with their own personality traits, which means training may take some time. Take time to learn your puppy and bond with them during training. Remember to practice patience and consistency at all times!
