There are many dog barking control methods available today; while some utilize dog psychology, others advocate corrective collars. The basis to any successful barking control method is to first identify the stimulant that causes your dog to bark excessively. Once the trigger is identified an appropriate approach to the problem may be formulated.
Note: Remember to make sure that you are not inadvertently rewarding barking with physical or verbal reinforcement. The same is true for anyone who has contact with your pet, whether it is other household members or the guy down the street that thinks your Goldendoodle is the cutest thing he has ever seen. No one should reinforce your dog’s bad barking behavior by petting him during barking incidents since in the dog’s mind he is being rewarded for barking.
Simple guidelines:
Screaming “NO” is not going to work; matter of fact it will most likely make matter even worse. Your dog may look at your yelling as a form of barking and in his mind, you will have joined him.
Consistency! Decide on a one word command that everyone in the household will use to exercise control over barking. Everyone must use the same word and have the identical approach to correcting bad barking behavior for the correction to be effective.
Patience: Just like changing human habits, modifying barking behavior doesn’t happen over night. Exercise patience with yourself and your dog; proceed slowly, one step at a time. If you allow yourself to lose your temper you may throw away any chance of success.
The Best Barking Controls:
Relaxed state: Dogs generally follow their owner’s lead. To control barking the dog must be in an obedient, relaxed frame of mind. If your dog will lie down on command, you have a great start since dogs that are lying down don’t bark much.
Reward good behavior. Rewarding your dog’s good behavior with positive reinforcement is extremely powerful when compared to negative reinforcement (punishment). If you physically punish your dog for their behavior all you will accomplish is to make your dog fear you; you will break any bond of trust that existed between you and most likely will never get it back.
Pick a special treat as a reward so your barking buddy knows he has done really well.
When in the midst of a barking episode don’t be putty in your dog’s paws; don’t talk to him in a soothing manner or hug him. In your dog’s mind this type of affection is a positive reinforcement that encourages more barking to get more loving.
You need to be in control; devise training situations enlisting family members and willing neighbors. Dogs have fairly short attention spans (unless they are barking at the squirrel outside the window) and training should be done in frequent sessions lasting 5-10 minutes each.
If you feel you cannot control the situation, ask for help from a professional. It is easy to find animal behaviorists and trainers that are experts at modifying barking behavior.
Correction Collars
There is a wide array of correction collars on the market currently that set off irritating ultrasonic sounds, electric shock and even smells when the dog barks. Collars alone do not solve the barking problems but can be used in conjunction with other modification techniques. Some dogs simply ignore the collars effect and bark anyway. For dogs that bark due to anxiety these collars generally produce disastrous effects. Rather than inspiring an anxious dog to cease barking, corrective collars generally cause them to bark even more due to increased levels of anxiety. Correction collars cannot be depended on to produce the desired effect of modifying a barking dog’s behavior; instead it may make it worse.
Desensitizing Your Dog
If your dog is afraid of certain sounds or sights, you can desensitize them over a period of time. Say for instance your dog fears the sound of loud engines as they pass by your house and as a result he barks incessantly at every vehicle going by. Obtain a recording of a truck engine. Begin by playing the sound very quietly so your lovely Goldendoodle barely hears it. As long as he does not emit a sound reward him with his favorite treat, squeaky toy or chew toy. Each training session, turn the volume up a bit; all the while providing positive reinforcement for silence. Over time your dog will forget about barking as he will be more occupied with his toys and treats. Desensitizing is a great method to train a fearful or anxious barker.
Over-Excited Barkers
Over-excited barkers are often those dogs that get carried away while playing and start to bark incessantly. The best way to handle these dogs is to stop the play until they calm down and relax.
