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How to make your dog stop barking

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My dogs love to bark at anything and everything, but all that noise can get really annoying really quickly. Training your dog to stop barking is both easy and useful - especially if you have close neighbors or want to bring your dog to work with you. By following these simple tips, you'll be able to train your dog to stop barking in no time!

Take Away the Problem

Does your dog bark when guests come to your house? Isolate him in another room when you have company. Are dogs going by your house causing your dog to bark? Close the curtains or blinds. Chances are your dog will feel left out of all the action and will be eager to fix the situation.

Stop Rewarding Bad Behavior

I have to admit, I am the poster child for rewarding bad behavior. When my dog River Tam barks (and she barks almost constantly) I immediately scoop her up and love on her to quiet her down. Consider that a lesson in what NOT to do if you're trying to train your dog. By giving our dogs treats, toys, or even attention to quiet them down, we are reinforcing their bad behavior. Instead, try ignoring your dog when he starts barking. In my case, this means immediately taking River Tam off my lap (the horror!) and not touching her until she stops barking. It's amazing how quickly a dog will stop barking when you stop paying attention to him.

Praise the Good Behavior

When your dog does stop barking, be sure to reward them immediately. That means different things for different dogs. Most dogs will respond best to a treat but other dogs (like mine) are looking for affection. Remember that the reward needs to be immediate so your dog associates something positive with their good behavior. If you reward your dog too late, the meaning behind it will be lost.

Desensitize Your Dog

Training your dog to stop barking is useless unless you expose them to whatever triggers their barking in the first place. Isolating your dog from situations that make them bark is a great short term solution but, for long term results, try slowly introducing your dog to situations where they would normally bark (such as when someone comes to your door) to desensitize them to the experience. Don't wait around for the situation to happen on its own. Enlist a friend to play the part of a guest at your door and have a training session with your dog.

Teach Your Dog the Quiet Command

By teaching your dog the "speak" command and then the "quiet" command - with lots of praise and treats, of course - you will be training your dog to learn when it is and is not appropriate to bark. Plus, should your dog start barking when you do not want them to, they will know the "quiet" command is followed by praise and a reward.

Avoid Negativity

Last but not least, it's important to avoid negativity when you're doing any sort of training with your dog. Hitting your dog or punishing them for barking will only make them fearful of you and possibly even aggressive. And remember - if you yell at your dog for barking, they will think you are joining in with them and may even bark more! Training with positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, will always produce better results and will make the training process more enjoyable for both your and your dog.

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, a cockatoo, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322.

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