How to stop inappropriate barking

Dogs bark for many reasons, alerting their owners to danger, protecting themselves, in play, or simply out of boredom or need for attention.

The best way to silence a barking dog is to make sure the dog is a behaviorally sound member of the family- that means an inside pet. Dog rescue groups take in hundreds or thousands of dogs every year from owners who complain that they just won’t stop barking. 99 times out of 100 that dog never nuisance barks again after being placed in a foster home with attention and love and toys to play with.

If you have a dog who is barking inappropriately don’t run right out and get a collar. It is easy to misuse an electronic collar or a citronella collar and end up with a dog who runs from you, urinates all over themselves submissively, or will never bark even to alert you to an intruder to your home or a stranger talking to your child through the fence.

Many people have taught their dog not to bark inappropriately by just using a spray bottle of water, a can of pennies, or a firm "no".

Trained dogs are happy, confident dogs! Taking your dog to an obedience class would help them feel occupied (even when their not in class) and help them be a better family companion. Even spending 5 minutes a day teaching your dog tricks would delight family and visitors and give your dog something to look forward to.