A Barking Dog is a Pain!

How do you get your dog to stop barking? After all, who likes a
constantly barking dog? The only time I want a dog barking is
when people drive up or to keep coyotes away. But when I tell
her to stop, I want my dog to stop.

So how do you go about obtaining this wonderful silence? We all
know it’s better to train anyone and anything when they are
young. So start with your puppy training it to end up with a dog
that only barks when you want.

That last sentence is the key. You need to decide how much
barking you do want and then train your puppy to achieve that
goal. As we have stated elsewhere, you must decide what the
rules are for your family and work during your puppy training
toward that end.

And situations differ with regards to a barking dog. A person
living in the city in an apartment does not want a dog that
constantly barks. This is irritating to you and your neighbors.

On the other hand, I live in the country with livestock. The
purpose of my dog outside is to let me know someone has driven
up and to keep the coyotes away. She needs to let them know she
is here and on duty. Barking is how she warns the coyotes. I
have seen her take on a bear standing her ground between it and
the livestock, barking until the bear left. I want my dog
barking.

So again this goes back to your lifestyle, the way you and your
family live and where you live. Consider your purpose in having
your dog. Do you want your dog to announce visitors? Do you want
your dog to be Lassie and warn of danger to the children? Is
your dog a guardian that you take along when you jog? What
should your dog be barking at? Do you want your dog barking upon
your arrival at home to greet you?

Now that you have decided how much barking you want your dog to
do and when, you just take steps in your puppy training to
achieve this. The best way to get your dog or puppy to bark when
you want is, during puppy training, teaching him to stop when
you want. This is how you clue him in to the proper times to
bark. You want your puppy or dog barking only when you want.

copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson