Search:

Advice For Handling A Constant Dog Barking

By: Mike Roberts All dogs bark for any number of reasons. Occasionally these can be good reasons such as to warn of an intruder or to express fright or pain. Sometimes these can be "bad" reasons as far as humans are concerned - dogs attempting to sound menacing or simply to get attention fall into this category.

Whatever reason the dog may have for barking, we humans often consider constant barking to be a nuisance. Due to this, here are several methods one can employ to help control a barking dog.

The most humane method for controlling a constantly barking dog is to train the dog NOT to bark, or specifically to bark only at the appropriate times. There are many ways to do this, but professional trainers usually recommend a traditional reward/reprimand system and consider these to be the most effective to use.

Some people opt for an electronic "bark collar" as a shortcut to training the dog themselves. The collar contains an electronic device which is activated by the action of the dog when it starts barking. The device delivers a small electric shock which pains and startles the dog. Eventually the dog is able to associate the negative stimulus with the barking and stops doing it.

The problems with these systems are many, however. Some dogs simply don't learn that the barking is the cause of the negative stimulus, and they will continue to bark despite the discomfort it causes. Particularly furry dogs may not even feel the shock or activate the device because its metal points must contact the skin directly in order to deliver the shock. More often then not, the collar itself is not enough and must be backed up with training anyway.

If you do use a bark collar, only use it for short periods and not an extended period of time.

Many people consider the idea of employing a bark collar to be cruel to the dog. While this may be a matter of opinion, these collars emit only a slight shock and will not cause harm to the dog if used over a short period of time.

Still another type of bark control collar delivers a mist of citronella to the nose area of the dog. Most dogs hate this smell and may soon associate the bad smell with their constant barking. Success rates while using a citronella collar are similar to those using an electronic collar

By far the most extreme method of attempting to control a dog's barking is to have it undergo de-barking surgery. With this procedure, a small fold of tissue is removed from the larynx of the dog, rendering it unable to bark. Some find this procedure to be inhumane and, since the dog's bark may return after a few months anyway, it is certainly a less than perfect method and few vets will recommend.