If your dog is barking excessively, then you should be cautious and take an immediate action because a barking dog is annoying and disturbing.

It's natural that dogs bark, growl, and howl. You should not expect a silent dog. They may bark for different reasons. Sometimes they vocalize to communicate with their owners while other times they bark for a reward like food or companionship, which is problem barking. It is better to prevent problem barking because it might turn into your dog's habit, which is quite annoying.

Why Dogs Bark?

Before delving into the handling of a barking dog, let's discuss the triggering factors which should be avoided.

Improper Environment

Confining a dog in odd surroundings can lead him to bark unnecessarily. They may also bark due to other environmental signals or imitations like passing cars, sirens, and other barking dogs.

Requesting Attention

Suppose the dog is bored, anxious, or frustrated and looking for the attention of their owner. It results in compulsive behavior, and they begin to bark.

Physical Need

Your dog might be feeling hot or cold, or he is asking for food through barking and sometimes, inactivity and inadequate exercise make your dog hyperactive, and they bark to release their energy.

Tricks and Techniques to Handle a Barking Dog

Here is the list of some essential techniques and tricks that will help you stop a barking dog. These techniques will take time to work. So be patient and keep practicing them.  

1. Remove the Barking Trigger.

If your dog is barking day and night, you should try to notice what makes your dog bark. Please create a list of all the factors which trigger your dog and remove them. For example

• If your dog barks at another dog, then close the blinds of the window.
• Or if a doorbell triggers your dog, ask people to call you when they are at your home.
• If there are factors you can't get rid of, like your dog barks by seeing their reflection in the mirror, limit their exposure.

2. Manage the Environment.

If your dog barks when he sees or hears another dog's sound, then the best way to stop them from barking is to maintain the environment to block your dog from seeing other dogs. Use a fence that disconnects your dog from the street. For indoor privacy, leave the curtains on the windows or use an opaque plastic material on the windows to block your dog's sight-line.

When a trainer goes out of the home, he should leave the dog with sounds like the sound of television or radio.

3. Set up a Quiet Place

If your dog barks when you leave home, then this is the signal of anxiety. Set up a quiet place for your dog or crate cover to isolate your dog.

4. Use Training Commands

There are a few commands you use while training your dog, which can help you control your dog's barking. These commands will also distract your dog.

1. Sit/ stay: It helps keep your dog distracted when a motivating factor is around him.
2. Recall: Useful to call your dog away from the triggering factor.
3. Quiet: Use a calm voice and say "quiet" to your dog, also give him a treat and show a warm affection.

5. Don't Give Attention.

Mostly dogs bark to seek your attention, but don't notice him until he stops barking. Ignore a barking dog because if you give him attention, it will reinforce into a habit. When he is quiet, please give him a treat or whatever he wants.

6. Use Bark Control Products or Dog Toys.

Today the technology also understands the dog's behavior so, have designed some bark control products that feel gentle to a dog. For example:

1. Ultrasonic anti-bark birdhousewhich releases pleasing sounds which are quite fascinating to the dogs.
2. Citronella spray collaris sprayed on the collar of dogs, used to reduce the stress and anxiety of a barking dog.
3. Stress-reducing collarmade up of pleasing herbs that release the stress and calm down a barking dog.
4. Thunder shirt pressure wrapapplies a soothing and gentle pressure on dogs. In this wrap, a dog feels much secure.
5. Place a treat inside Dog toysand let them work to get the treat.

7. Indulge in a Physical Activity

Involve your dog in any physical or mental activity because a tired dog is less likely to bark. So depending on the age and health of your dog involve him activities like

• Take him to a long walk,
• Play games such as tug of war with your dog,
• Make a habit of morning exercise of your dog

These activities will release the energy of your dog and keep him tired enough to bark.

8. Socialize Your Dog

Mostly anti-social dogs bark at people and other dogs. Increase the exposure and positive experience of your dog to other people, vehicles, etc. Ask your friend to give a treat to your dog. This will socialize your dog and let him bark less.

9. Don't Shout at a Barking Dog.

Shouting always excites your dog, and he barks more. When your voice rises, a dog considers that you are joining him. Or might be he get used to of your high tone and don't stop shouting until you yell at him. So don't shout at your dog and stay calm and quiet.   

Tips

• Never reward or treat a barking dog. When he stops barking even for few seconds, feed him treats as a reward.
• Keep the training sessions of your dog concise and joyful.
• Be consistent in your training methods, so you don't annoy your dog.

Here we are sharing some productive methods which will help you to deal with your dog.

Wrapping Up!

A barking dog can be a real torture for you, but following the right tricks and training techniques, you can keep the dog calm and quiet. Further, if the dog keeps barking even after following the above methods, you should go to a certified trainer to stop your dog from barking.