How To Train a Dog To Stop Barking

Before it becomes a pest, you need to know how to train a dog to stop barking.

Provide Distractions:
If your dog barks when left alone, leave him with plenty of toys to occupy his attention. If he is playing or chewing on toys, he will be too preoccupied to bark.

Rotate his favourite toys so your dog does not become bored with them, and only give them to him when you are gone. This will increase their attraction for your dog and he will be even more inclined to devote his attention to them instead of barking.

Don't pet or soothe your dog if he is barking from fear. This reinforces his barking, which you are trying to stop.

Do not encourage aggressive barking. Any positive reaction he gets from you will reinforce his behaviour and make it more difficult to control.

If your dog is barking to demand something - a toy, treat, car ride, etc. - do not give into his demands and reward the undesirable behaviour. Wait until he is quiet to give him his reward.

Teach your dog the word "Quiet" so he will know the command to stop barking and be able to respond to it. To teach "Quiet" you can either use a squirt bottle with water or a shake can.

Just put some pebbles in empty drinks can and seal the hole.
When your dog barks when he should not, squirt him on his mouth. The shock will be a negative response to his barking and he will learn to cease barking to avoid it.

A shake can is a small can with some pebbles inside, taped shut so they do not spill out. It makes a loud, distracting noise. When your dog barks, when he is not supposed to, shake the can loudly and say, "Quiet!"

This distracts your dog from the barking. Praise your dog when he has been quiet for several moments. Both these methods must be used within seconds of the unnecessary barking, or they will have no effect. Praise and reward your dog when he is being quiet. Dogs want to please, and will learn you like it best when it is quiet.

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The proper way how to train a dog to stop barking is to identify the cause and create reasons that both reduce the reason for the barking and train your dog that it is not acceptable behaviour.

Remember, it is your job as his owners to train him, teach him the rules and provide an environment that does not support undesirable behaviour.

If you keep up with these techniques, you will start to see a new pattern of barking develop. Instead of barking continuously and at the insignificant, your dog will be barking appropriately and for a reasonable length of time.

It is important that you maintain this new good habit through practice and praise or your dog may revive his old annoying barking habits again