How can I get my dog to stop barking so much?

DETROIT – Several years ago I had a beautiful baby boy. I also had an awesome 5-year-old dog, Tugg, who was a bit of a barker.Before I became a parent, Tugg’s barking was nothing more than a nuisance. But once the baby needed nap times, the barking became a huge issue: It had to stop!

With everyone in the house basically sleep-deprived, I decided to go with a quick fix.  I purchased a citronella collar, which works by spraying a mist in front of a barking dog’s nose every time it “woofs.” Between the “shhhhhht” sound of the squirt and the citrus smell, which canines tend to dislike, citronella collars can be fairly good bark-busters.

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The good news? The collar worked and Tugg stopped barking. But a week later my Jeep was stolen from the driveway in the dark of night and Tugg never let out a peep.

As a dog behaviorist I knew better!

Barking is one of the more complicated behaviors we deal with for the simple reason that there is no one-size-fits-all bark-stopping training. To “fix” the bark, you have to first understand the motivation behind it.

You can do this … usually … by observing the situation in which the dog barks combined with the dog’s body language. And because dogs are emotional beings just like people there are probably a bunch of different reasons Tugg and his buddies use their voices. 

Let’s start with breaking down bark types into basic categories. I like to keep things as simple and effective as possible so I classify barking into these four categories:

1) FEAR – Translates into, “Get the heck away from me RIGHT NOW,”or “I am not prepared to be home alone yet.”

2) WARNING – “Someone is delivering your mail, walking past the house, or STEALING YOUR JEEP!”

3) ATTENTION – “Ummmmm, did you forget I am the center of your universe?” and “Stop talking on the phone and PLAY WITH ME!!!” 

4) Boredom – “Don’t leave me here in the yard with nothing to do for hours.  Can anyone hear me? I need company.”

Once you have an idea about WHAT’S behind your dog’s bark, you can begin to learn effective ways to help curb the behavior. We’ll do that in the next blog.

In the meantime, pay close attention to the situations that cause your dog to bark. A helpful tip?  Start a barking journal. Really! Capture everything that’s happening when your dog starts barking … and then what happens, and what he looks like, when he stops.

Bark journaling will make the training process easier for you and more effective for Fido.  

Things to consider in the journal:
• Time of day
• Who’s around – animal or human and what they look like/even what they’re wearing, how far away they are when the barking starts and stops
• Dog’s body language
• Dog’s location (on a leash, in a room, in a yard, behind a window)
• Your location
• The weather (It can matter.)
• Anything else specific to your dog and your home and your world

After a couple of weeks compare the entries. Are there common threads? Anything that surprises you?

And remember – sometimes barking is good. So have a plan before you start training.  Define your expectations.  Use the journal to guide the process.

Lastly, consider the potential unintended consequences of the training.

I know I would have been very happy if Tugg’s 3 a.m. barking had actually prevented my Jeep from being stolen. 

About the author:

CJ Bentley is a dog behavior expert who has taught group dog obedience classes for the Michigan Humane Society for 20 years. As the creator of the MHS training program, CJ was one of the first to bring dog-friendly training methods to the Detroit area. Her creative approach allows her to customize training programs to individual dogs and families. CJ is the past Executive Director of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and is still a member – most recently serving on their board nominations/selection committee. Dogs awaiting adoption at MHS benefit from a training and enrichment program, Pawsitive Start, which CJ designed and implemented. CJ is a sought-after speaker on topics such as canine learning and training methods, kennel enrichment, canine “personality” assessments, and teaching the human end of the leash. She has authored books on canine behavior and training.