Your dog barks a lot and at the slightest opportunity: an unknown person approaching, another animal entering his field of vision, or when you leave him alone at home… This barking can become annoying on a daily basis. To prevent your companion from keeping this bad habit, it is important to react quickly. Start by clearly identifying the cause of his repeated barking, and discover our tips for calming your favourite animal.
Start by identifying the cause of this excessive barking
With its different postures, barking is your dog’s main means of communication. In fact, when your dog barks, he is most likely trying to send you a message. He can usually bark for several reasons:
He wants to warn you of the presence of an intruder (a person he does not know) or a potential prey (a passing cat);
- He reacts because he is afraid of something (a noise, an unknown person);
- He intends to protect his territory ;
- He wants to get your attention, out of frustration, for example, if he is bored and wants to play with you;
- He feels anxiety, especially if you are about to leave him.
In these cases, the best way to calm him down is to train your dog not to bark, and to familiarize him better with his surroundings to avoid any source of stress.
But it’s also possible that your pitbull corgi mix is barking because he’s exhibiting a behavioural disorder. In this case, here is how to react.
Consult a veterinarian to detect any behavioural problems
The repeated barking of your dog alerts you, and you fear that he suffers from a behavioural disorder? Know that there is a syndrome of hypersensitivity and hyperactivity (also called HS/HA syndrome) in dogs. This canine behavioural disorder is manifested after a few weeks by often uncontrollable excitement, excessive barking, compulsive or even aggressive behaviour, lack of concentration, and hyper emotionality of the animal (phobia, anxiety, etc.). This syndrome can be caused by brain dysfunction, or by incomplete weaning if your dog was separated from his mother too early. If you want to be sure that his disorder is not due to this, consider consulting your veterinarian. He will ensure that your dog is in perfect mental and physical health and, if necessary, he will advise you on a treatment adapted to your pet.
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Train your dog to calm his barking
Whether your pet is a young puppy that just arrived in your home or an adult dog, know that it is possible to educate him to bark less, whatever his age. Here are our tips to apply with patience and perseverance.
Keep calm and make your dog obey you
When your dog barks, you may be tempted to get angry and yell at him to stop. But it is better to avoid: your dog may be afraid, bark even louder, or even become aggressive. The best solution: stay calm and firmly say “stop” or “silence” for example, so that your dog understands that you are giving him an order and he is quiet. If he obeys, reward him with a gentle pet or treat. Otherwise, repeat the command several times firmly, then ignore your dog. He will eventually realize that his barking does not attract your attention.
If your dog barks to ask you for something (an exit, a kibble, a pet), do not comply. It’s up to you to decide! So wait until he stops yelping to respond to his request, which will teach him to wait in silence.
Get your dog used to his environment and new things
If your dog barks especially when he is afraid of something new in his environment (an unfamiliar person, an unusual noise, potential prey), the best way to calm him down is to get him used to it gradually. From an early age and throughout his life, do not hesitate as soon as possible to take him everywhere with you: with your friends, in the streets, in transport, shops, etc. Thus, your dog will be accustomed to constantly discovering new people, new noises, new smells, etc. Accustomed to being in places that are sometimes calm or lively, your dog will therefore no longer be afraid of what surrounds him, and he will stop barking.
On the other hand, if you fear that your dog is very stressed by nature, learn to detect any signs of his anxiety, to help him relax.
Make sure your pet gets enough exercise
Does your dog often bark at home? It is certain that he wants to attract your attention so that you take care of him. It’s normal: to feel good, dogs need a good dose of petting and above all… to move daily! To channel your dog’s overflowing energy, and naturally calm his barking, take him out several times a day so he can exercise himself. Take him to play in the park, and, even better, get him used to play with other dogs to maintain his sociability. Your faithful companion will thus be stimulated, he will release all his energy during walks, and he will come home really relaxed with only one desire: to rest silently in his basket.
Draw his attention to other sources of distraction
Does your dog spend most of his days indoors? He may be bored. So when a squirrel passes in his field of vision or when an unusual noise surprises him, his barking goes from strength to strength. To attract his attention, place at his disposal something to occupy him. A bone to gnaw on, very solid toys to chew on… Concentrating on what he is doing, your dog will therefore be less tempted to bark.
This advice can also be useful if you regularly leave your pet alone at home. Worried by your absence, and without a source of play, he can start yelping loudly and for a long time. To avoid this, start by getting your dog used to being left alone for a few hours, and always leave a few toys within arm’s reach!
Did you know?
Some dog breeds bark more than others. This is for example the case of hunting dogs which are conditioned to warn their master of an undesirable presence or prey: beagles, Rottweilers, German shepherds… Other breeds bark for another reason: their more anxious nature. This is for example the case of chihuahuas, westies, or Maltese bichons. However, nothing is fixed! The barking of your dog depends above all on his character and his education.
protect your pet
Training your dog is a daily job that requires patience to get the best out of your favourite pet. But you also have to think about protecting it from everyday risks. Carrefour Assurance helps you take care of your faithful companion, thanks to dog cat health insurance. You can choose a formula adapted to your dog, and, in the event of a problem, we reimburse you for veterinary care.
