How on Earth Do You Get a Dog to Stop Barking?

It can be one of the most frustrating things for dog owners: A dog that will just not stop barking. You just want peace and quiet, but the dog on the other hand couldn't care less, right? Well - it's not like the dog is barking on purpose just to upset you. You've got to start becoming more aware of the "dog's barking trends".

Try to be more attentive. What's the cause of it? Is it something that's really obvious which is setting him off or is it something more subtle? A lot of times a dog will bark when he sees someone they are not familiar with. Dogs, being a natural territorial animal, will bark at that person, as to say "get off my property".

The real key to get your dog to stop barking is to simply be prepared. Know what's the cause of it and act upon it before he starts barking. For instance, if the dog barks at the mailman, be prepared for it. You should have some idea of when your mailman delivers the mail everyday. Around that time, put a leash on your dog. When you start to see the mail car give a little tug on the leash, before he even gets a chance to bark. It's a nice jolt to the system.

Even better, if you are outside, is to have a little water pistol handy. If you know what triggers your dogs bark, squirt him with water before he gets a chance to bark. He'll soon figure out there are consequences for the barking. Also this doesn't mean anything if you don't reward him for when he doesn't bark. They need both positive and negative reinforcement.