How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking :

Few things in life can drive you crazy as a constantly barking dog. Whether they have

that deep shuddering “Woof, woof, woof” or that ear piercing “Yap, Yap, Yap” it can do

your head in very quickly.

The great news is that barking is not something that dogs need to do in order to be

happy. In fact, generally speaking barking is a sign of stress, frustration, anxiety or over

excitement and none of these emotions are particularly good for your dog.

Or you!

Remember a content, relaxed dog does not bark!

So lets take a look at one specific type of barking and get you started on putting a stop to

it…

Dogs who bark when you are not at home is a very common issue. Usually people have

no idea that they have a problem until the neighbour or even worse the dog control

officer pays you a visit. Understanding why your dog is barking is the key to stopping it

so you can actually address the cause of your dogs problem and not just treat the

symptoms.

Now bear with me on this one because… you MUST remember you have to see it all

through your dogs eyes!

So think of it like this…

Your dog is a pack animal and understands that there are leaders and followers.

And one of the pack leader's jobs is to protect the pack.

So when on Monday morning everybody leaves the house to go to work and leaves the

dog at home alone they become stressed… and so would you if you lost your pack!

That’s the reason why they're stressed and barking. They are calling out to you to come

back. They just are trying to do their job.

Think about it… If you are a parent with a young 3 year old child, one of your main jobs

is to keep that child safe, so you keep an eye on them. All the time. All over the house you

know where they are. They are safe. You are relaxed.

If they suddenly walk out of the house and shut the front door behind them locking you

in what would you do?

Chase after them? Of course…

But. What if the door was locked and you couldn’t open in. And all the other doors and

windows are locked. Then what would you do…

Phone for help? Your dog doesn't have that option!

Shout for help? Well that is exactly what your dog is doing…Page 8

You certainly wouldn't sit down, relax and have a cup of tea, knowing your young child

was wandering around the streets alone.

Are you starting to see why your dog is stressed and barking when you leave now?

And all those other annoying behaviors such as chewing, destruction and trying to dig

under the fence, or jump over the fence that only happen when you're not around… Yep,

that’s right. They are all symptoms of a stressed dog that’s desperately concerned about

you not being home and safe. Remember your dog can’t speak English to tell you any of

this!

So what’s the solution? Well it’s almost certainly not by giving them a bone to chew on

whilst you are away. Imagine saying to the parent who is totally stressed that their

young child is out on the streets…

“Don’t worry, here’s a box of chocolates”! You may love chocolates but it is not going to

work in this situation.

Toys jammed full of food and other distractions do not treat the cause of the problem

either. They are only treating the symptoms and so may work, if you’re lucky, for half an

hour or so – max – but not long term. Most of you will know that this doesn't work

because you'll have already tried it!

The solution is actually very simple.

You need to become the pack leader in your dog’s eyes.

Once you do this correctly your dog will not see it as their job to protect you.

You will be able to come and go as you please and they will be totally relaxed.

This is the real solution to having a calm relaxed dog. No tricks here, just an honest

understanding.