Dog Barking Problems

A dog barking late into the night waking neighbors is a neighborhood nuisance.  Nuisance barking can have many facets.  Many dogs are leash trained except for barking uncontrollably near other dogs.  Other dogs will excessively bark when a doorbell or telephone rings.  These types of behaviors can be extremely upsetting, and annoying.  A neighborhood nuisance can escalate into the legal system where an owner may be forced to stop the dog barking problems or euthanize the offending dog.  We all love our dogs and do not want to be forced to euthanize our dog.

Reasons for Dog Barking

The reason a dog is barking for each of the above examples can be quite different.  A dog barking problem at night may be reacting to people or other animals near his territory.  A dog barking while walking through the neighborhood on a leash may be barking to assert his authority over the other dog. A dog barking when the doorbell or phone rings may be reporting the action to the family.

Dog Barking Training

Often dog barking problems become problems because we failed to teach or reinforce proper actions when the dog was a puppy.  A puppy removed from its mother early in its life may not have been socialized by its mother to other dogs.  Negative habits as a puppy were ignored thus allowing a bad habit to be formed.

Dogs need to learn how to socialize with other dogs.  Dog socialization must be done for a dog to be happy around other dogs.  Dogs in the wild live in dog packs.  In a dog pack you have one dog that is the leader, the alpha dog.  In your family you must be the alpha leader to the dog.  You cannot allow the dog to think it is the alpha dog in your family.  Many dogs are lead to believe they are the alpha dog in a human family because no one has set limits on the dog.  The dog does what it pleases often creating embarrassing situations for the family.

Dog Barking Problems

Alpha Dog

You become the alpha dog leader in your family by taking the authority.  Rules or limits must be set for the dog.  These limits must be enforced sternly fairly and consistently.  The dog will resist at first not wanting to lose its position as alpha dog.  Being the family alpha dog leader is a twenty-four hour day, 7 day a week job.  You must be the alpha dog leader in control at all times.

A dog being led on a leash that is submissive to his alpha dog leader will not bark unless given permission.  The late night nuisance of a barking dog won't be a problem if he does not feel he is the alpha dog that has a territory to protect.  A dog won't announce the doorbell or phone if he knows he must be submissive to his alpha dog leader.

Becoming Alpha Dog Leader

You regain the authority in the house by setting rules and demanding adherence to your rules.  Negative actions must be reprimanded immediately after occurrence.  Positive behavior rewarded with praise and possibly a "treat."  Negative reprimands must be said with a stern voice and attitude.  Positive rewards should be with a happy voice and body language.  Your dog cannot talk but he can feel strong emotions and body language.  As long as you act like the alpha leader you will be the alpha leader.  If you ever let your guard down you have lost that authority until you reassert it again.

Things Not to Do

You must never be inconstant.  Never allow an action one time and forbid it another. Set down limits and require everyone in the family to adhere to the limits all the time.  Never physically abuse your dog.  No matter how upset you may become you must not resort to abuse.  Abusing your dog only creates confusion and leads to further dog misbehavior. 

A dog wants to be trained.  He wants to be led.  Never forget to provide for your dogs needs and wants. A dog wants the approval of his alpha dog leader.  Take opportunities to train him to do tricks.  When he successfully accomplishes these tricks praise him for it.  Never withhold food and water from your dog under any condition.

If you adhere to these rules, you will have eliminated your dog barking problems.