The other day, I had an interaction that every dog owner dreads but usually happens at some point.
I was at my back screen door letting my dogs in from the yard and my backdoor neighbor motioned for me to come to the fence. As I walked over, I could tell by his body language that this was not for a friendly conversation or small-talk.
Sure enough, as I made it to the gate, my neighbor explained that my German Shepherd puppy was barking way too much while out in the yard and she was becoming a nuisance to him and his family. Ugh!
So what do you say to that? She is like my baby so of course I was a little defensive but I also understood the need to be respectful of my neighbors and figure out some sort of a solution. And fast!
I know that a lot of other dog parents struggle with this same issue and it can became quite dicey when other people besides just you and your family are affected so I wanted to share what worked for us.
First and foremost, there are times when whining, howling and barking are normal for your dog. However, if you have a dog that constantly whines, howls or barks, it can become a problem. Not only can it become a problem for you, it can also become a problem for your neighbors if you live in an apartment or a subdivision. You will certainly get constant complaints from them if the problem is not resolved.
Here are some ways that you can deal with a dog that is constantly creating havoc:
- Find out why the dog is whining, howling or barking so much. They may be hungry, thirsty or both. Make sure that the dog is always fed and always has water. Don’t forget about supplying the dog with toys so that they can stay busy.
- Some dogs do not like being by themselves. They get upset when no one is around and it creates anxiety for them. In addition to being lonely, they get stressed out which may cause them to make all kinds of annoying noises.
- Even if you are at home with the dog, they need to learn how to be alone. Don’t make it a habit of always catering to them when they whine. If you do, they will expect you to come every time. You’ll have a difficult time breaking the habit.
- For those living in an apartment or complex and your dog is barking inside and causing problems for neighbors, realize that sometimes a dog will make noises because they need to use the bathroom. The three times that you definitely need to take them out is after they eat, after an activity and after a nap or when they are waking up in the morning. There will be other times, but once the dog is properly trained and on a set routine, you will be able to figure it all out.
- After you have provided food, water and toys for the dog, they should be quiet. However, if they are not, don’t be afraid to let them know that their behavior is not acceptable. You can do this by promptly going to them and sternly say, “stop barking!” Believe it or not, most dogs will quickly make the correlation between that command and the barking. Most dogs want to please you so that will often work.
- My dog would mostly bark at people jogging by or other dogs. She is very vocal and it was her way of trying to get their attention and be friendly. I began simply going out every time she started incessantly barking, would sternly give the command, “no barking” and would then bring her promptly inside. It only took a few times for her to make the connection and after a few days of being very consistent with her, she would only bark a time or two at passerby’s and then would promptly settle down.
So remember these important points when training your dog to stop the incessant barking or whining.
First of all, they are dogs and barking is there way of communicating. To expect them to never bark is like expecting us to never talk. It is unrealistic and frankly, not very nice. Dogs will sometimes bark and that is okay and actually natural and normal. It is just the incessant barking that needs to be addressed.
Secondly, never, under any circumstances, use physical punishment as a means of trying to stop the behavior. It is cruel, unnecessary and will only create mistrust with your fur baby.
Lastly, BE CONSISTENT! Your dog truly wants to please you but if you are inconsistent with your message, they will become confused as to your expectations. If you remain consistent, it really shouldn’t take very long for them to understand and behave accordingly.
I am happy to report that my German Shepherd is doing so much better with controlling her barking. She still loves to “talk” but she understands that she cannot continue incessantly with it. She occasionally needs reminders if there is something out in the yard that really gets her excited but she is after all, still young and a dog just doing what dogs do.