9 Tips to Stop Barking Dogs

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9 Tips to Stop Barking Dogs
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Barking Solutions

• If you think you have a problem with your dog
  having an apparently insatiable demand for noise
  of his own making, here are nine tips which will
  help you work towards a solution.

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First Things First

• Firstly you need to identify the cause of your
  dog's persistent barking. Excessive barking is
  usually related to an underlying issue. The cause
  is probably behavioral. Common examples of such
  underlying issues include territorial barking,
  possibly because of some external stimulus
  attention seeking, barking due to some physical
  discomfort, barking through alarm or fear, and
  barking due to loneliness, boredom and inactivity.

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Applying The Remedy

• Having identified a reason for your dog's barking
  behavior, you will then need to seek out a remedy
  which will nullify the cause. Set out to apply
  this remedy to your particular situation, but be
  prepared to make small amendments as you proceed
  with the training. Think of ways which will
  measure the progress of the solution you are
  working towards. Although the end result is to be
  able to control your dog's barking, the frequency
  and consistency of a training method will vary
  according to the speed of progress. Set out to
  apply this remedy to your particular situation,
  but be prepared to make small amendments as you
  proceed with the training.

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Patience

• Secondly, you should be aware from the start that
  any dog behavior modification training will take
  practice - and patience. It is important not to
  rush or be impatient with whichever method you
  choose as the best one for your circumstances.
  Does your dog seem happy? Is he treating it all
  as a game? You definitely do not want him to be
  stressed out!

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Parrot Fashion

• Begin with a simple exercise, introducing your
  dog slowly to the training technique. Then
  progressively spend slightly longer each time you
  act on the method, Above all it is vital that you
  carry it out consistently and regularly.
  Repetition is the key, just like parrot fashion
  education for humans. Never did me any harm!

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Is It Working Yet?

• Initially you may think that the method is not
  working at all. However, as is the case with so
  many things, just be persistent and keep at it
  until you begin to see the result that makes your
  efforts worthwhile. Keep each training session
  brief, and be prepared for it to take several
  weeks to reach your goal. You should find that it
  becomes easier as time passes and your dog grows
  used to his regular training.

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Barking Is Not Rewarding

• Thirdly, you must never reward barking behavior.
  This is particularly important in puppyhood,
  which is also a good time to engender in your
  puppy some confidence in being alone. A puppy
  which is too strongly bonded to his owner will
  become a dog which will not be left alone without
  making an enormous fuss. He may grow up to be an
  anxious dog who will need some form of bark
  control.

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Bored Dogs Bark

• Fourthly, do not allow your dog to become bored.
  Barking through boredom is a common trait in many
  dogs, the working breeds in particular.
• Ensure that your dog does not go short of
  exercise, and that he has plenty of toys to play
  with, especially when you are busy or need to
  leave him at home alone. Remember, bored dogs
  bark.

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The Distraction Approach

• Fifthly, identify what your dog enjoys doing.
  Attract his attention to this enjoyable activity
  when he is barking. He should recognize this as
  an alternative to barking which he will enjoy
  even more. Bear in mind of course that a dog's
  bark is an instinctive response to his
  surroundings, and it is his natural form of
  expression. No owner should wish to contemplate
  their dog's exuberant outgoing personality being
  negatively affected.

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Follow It Through

• Sixthly, always be consistent in your training.
  Find a reliable dog training method, act upon it,
  and follow it through. For example, you should
  avoid confusing your dog by yelling at him to
  shut up on some occasions, then being patient
  when you are using one of the training
  techniques. If your dog feels that he has gained
  your attention by barking, just as he wanted,
  then you will have been inconsistent by using
  negative reinforcement. Remember, you need to
  apply consistent reinforcement techniques in
  whatever training your dog has undertaken.

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It Can Be Rewarding

• Seventh, reward your dog when he is not barking,
  especially if he has just become quiet after a
  spell of barking. After all, if he understands
  that being quiet will bring its own reward, then
  what do you think he will choose to do? You will
  need to have some particularly tasty rewards
  handy, whatever your dog's favorite treat is.
  Avoid giving him this treat on other occasions
  for the length of the training plan.

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Think Like A Dog

• Eighth, try to think like your dog! Put yourself
  in his paws. For example, think how you would be
  affected by whatever external stimuli may be
  causing him to bark. Then decide on a different
  way of doing things so that you - or your dog -
  will no longer be affected by it. Another example
  may be of a dog which barks a lot when he has
  been left alone and is quite likely to be an
  insecure dog. Why has my pack leader left me?
  Where have they gone? What are they doing without
  me? Your dog may be conditioned to expecting you
  to dote on his every whim, but he does need to
  learn how to be alone. Try to use some lateral
  thinking to circumvent your dog's thought
  processes.

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No PBarking!

• You can read more stop dog barking solutions in
  the author's free report on dog barking control,
  Do You Want to Stop Your Dog Barking? at this
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