Tips to Help Solve the Three Most Common
Dog Barking Complaints
Cynthia Alexander
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and
even embarrassed by their dog’s constant barking. Currently,
there are approximately 63 million dogs owned by 44 million
Americans. And just over one third of those owners complain of
excessive barking.
Allowing your dog to bark excessively can be hazardous to it’s
safety. I should know, I lost my dog because of it. I found out
that excessive barking is one of the major reasons that people
end up losing their dog. It’s a problem that nobody likes to talk
about or admit to.
Here are some practical solutions to three of the most common dog
barking complaints.
Complaint # One: Your dog barks for more than 15 minutes
continuously, or off and on for more than half an hour -
especially after you leave the house. Better known as separation
anxiety.
Solution: Even the Queen of Talk herself, Oprah Winfrey suffered
from this problem. The key is to not make a big deal when you are
leaving the house. Many people feel guilty and start apologizing
to their pooch when they have to leave it alone. Don’t! That
negative energy will affect your dog. Your dog can feel your
stress and will play into it, causing nervous barking. How you
react will dictate how your pup reacts. Leave calmly without
exciting your dog. Better yet, do something to preoccupy your dog
so she’s not focused on you when you are about to leave.
Complaint # Two: Outside sounds cause your dog to bark for long
periods of time.
Solution: You need to do something to block out those noises. You
may want to consider putting your dog in a room as far away from
the main street as possible and don’t let him have free reign of
the house. And while he’s in there, try turning on a radio
(preferably classical music or a soft style of music) to calm
your dog. It’s really true that music soothes the savage beast.
Complaint # Three: Your dog constantly barks, whines or whimpers
due to stress or anxiety or for any reason at all.
Solution: This can be a tough one for most people but, DO NOT
give your dog attention when it’s behaving like this. Too many
people unwittingly contribute to this particular problem by
picking up their dog or going to him when he starts to bark or
whine. Your dog is learning that in order to get attention from
you, barking and whining is the way to do it. He’s controlling
you. And by you picking him up or giving in to him in some way,
you’re reinforcing that. Remember, YOU are the boss, not your
dog. The way to break your dog of that habit is to ignore the
unwanted behavior and only praise your dog when it is not
barking. Then he’ll get the message that he only gets what he
wants (attention or affection) when he gives you what you want (a
calm quiet dog).
No dog owner should suffer the guilt, pain or embarrassment of
having a dog that barks constantly. Finally, dog owners can
safely leave Fido alone knowing he’s happy and quiet. And no more
worrying about dirty looks from the neighbors. All it takes is
knowing the proper way to deal with the behavior.
Cynthia Alexander is a former dog trainer and author of the
electronic book “The Ultimate Guide to Stop Your Dog from
Barking…FAST.” Ms. Alexander gives many detailed answers to all
kinds of nuisance barking problems, including separation anxiety.
It is available via immediate download for $29.97 at
http://www.stopyourbarking.com
- A must have for anyone dealing
with excessive barking.
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