9 effective ways to stop a dog barking and avoid problems with a neighbor
9 effective ways to stop a dog barking and avoid problems with a neighbor.
By Dennis Fisher.
A dog that keeps on continually barking – especially at night – is a tremendous nuisance and a source of problems with your neighbor. Your neighbor could even be a dog lover but a dog bark that goes on and on can upset even the mildest mannered person.
At one time I was training director of an all breeds training school. A new member of my Club, who had just joined the class, explained that the reason why she had joined the obedience training school was because she had been obliged to get rid of her previous dog – that she loved dearly – because of the complaints of her neighbor, who had objected to the dogs incessant barking at night.
I told her that it was a great pity she had not started the obedience training before and come to training with the previous dog, because unnecessary barking can be avoided with the correct training.
The same principle applies to dog training problems as with any problems,
One has to look at the situation logically. First of all determine why has the problems arisen in the first place? Secondly what effective measure can be taken to solve the problem.
Why do dogs bark? Dogs have an inherent guarding instinct and the reason why they bark is because they are warning you of intruders. Obviously you will have no objection to the dog barking for this reason, so it is important to identify the nature of the bark.
With the little bit of training and observing your dog closely you can tell from the sound of the bark, whether it is an unnecessary bark or whether there is a good reason for the barking.
In the case of incessant barking we are obviously not talking about this type of barking. Why do some dogs bark incessantly without any apparent reason? A very common reason is because they are bored and lonely. The dog is a pack animal and craves company. If you only have one dog, it is highly likely that this could be the reason.
How do you cope with this situation?
Here are nine ways that have worked for many dog owners who have to deal with angry neighbors who complained about their dog barking.
(1) Get another dog as a companion for your dog. If your dog is a large dog, you can get a small dog, preferably a small spayed bitch. They will soon become excellent companions.
(2) Another solutions is to get a toy for the dog. Dogs love their own special toys. Choose something very durably like a kong that cannot be damaged. During the day make a point of playing with the dog to get rid of excess energy.
(3)Also make sure that your dog has it’s own special space to sleep where it can be comfortable and feel secure. Stress is far more common with dogs than people realize. A dog needs to have it’s own area of security as much as humans.
(4) Obedience Training is absolutely essential with all dogs. A training school is an ideal place to train your dog because of the opportunities for socialization. The socialization should begin early. Not only with this prevent aggression with other dogs as the dog grows older, it will also result in a more balanced temperament.
(5)If it’s not convenient to join a training class, this should still not prevent you from socializing your dog by taking it for a walk in public place.
(6) If you hear your dog barking incessantly at night, first of all establish from the sound of the bark whether the animal is warning you of danger or whether it is just barking with no apparent reason.
(7)If the dog has had some obedience training, you can go and correct the dog with a firm “No!” in the same way as you did in obedience classes when you had to correct the dog unsatisfactory behavior.
(8) If you have never had any obedience classes this make the situation a little difficult. Don’t shout your correction from inside the house, because this has the effect of giving the dog the attention it wants. Establish your own training schedule. Use a command that the dog understands when it does something that is not acceptable to you.
(9)Although you may be tempted to bring the dog inside, especially if the barking continues at night, DO NOT DO THIS. Try and resist the temptation. The dog will obviously bark to attract this type of action from you.
You are invited to visit the following site for a great deal of useful information about dog training: http://www.freedogadvice.com
Dennis Fisher has owned, bred and trained dogs for more than 40 years. Although he has concentrated on breeding top quality German Shepherd Dogs ? a breed he judged in many parts of the world ? as Chairman and director of training of an all- breeds training school, his training experience covers a wide variety of different breeds. He is still actively involved in showing German Shepherds and entering obedience trials. A great deal of useful information about dog training can be found on his site
http://www.freedogadvice.com
5 Effective Dog Training Tips
Whether you just got a new puppy, or you adopted an older dog, no doubt you want to train your dog to be well behaved. This can vary from house training your dog, to training your dog how to sit and stay. No matter what kind of training you are trying to do with your dog, there are some tips that can be very helpful to you. The following are five effective dog training tips that can help you train your dog in half the time.
Dog Training Tip #1 – Use Positive Reinforcement – Unfortunately there are many people who try training their dog by using negative techniques, and this is not an effective way to train your dog. Instead of yelling at your dog or giving him negative attention, it is important that you positively reinforce his good behavior when you are training him. Use praise, petting, and even treats whenever he performs well. You want the training to be fun for you and your dog, so make sure you use positive reinforcement for the best results.
Dog Training Tip #2 – Use Short Training Sessions – Just like children, dogs can be overwhelmed by a great deal of new information at one time. If you try to teach them too much in one setting, more than likely they will forget a good deal of it by the next day. It is best if you only have training sessions that last about 15-20 minutes with your dog. Every time you have a training session with your dog, try to focus on only one new command and reviewing previous commands that have been learned. This will help your dog better retain the information and training.
Dog Training Tip #3 – Use a Pleasant and Firm Voice – When you are training your dog the voice that you use is very important. You should be sure that you use a voice that is pleasant; however, you also want your voice to be firm and commanding as well. Make sure that your voice reflects that you are in control, but be sure that you do not sound mean.
Dog Training Tip #4 – Have Patience with Your Dog – If you are going to train your dog, you are going to need to make sure that you have plenty of patience. No doubt it will not be easy, but you need to make sure that you show your dog patience and not frustration. If you do not think that you have the patience to train your dog, then you may want to send him to obedience school or have someone else do it for you.
Dog Training Tip #5 – Avoid Any Distractions While Training – Another important tip to remember when trying to train your dog is to avoid any distractions while you are training your dog. If you happen to own any other pets, make sure that they are not around when you are trying to train your dog. You want the area to be free of distractions so your dog is focused on you and what you are trying to teach him.