5 Ways To Stop Excessive Barking Of Your Dog.

I found a video on YouTube that was talking about some town banning excessive barking to the point of giving owners a $600 fine. Now to me this is ridiculous. I understand excessive barking is annoying but who's call is it to make that it has become excessive barking?

I have a neighbor who complains about any barking at all.  Now if she had this rule in place she would be phoning all the time for all the dogs in 5 blocks of our house. Do they take her word for it? That would be ridiculous! Since it probably was just normal everyday dog barking.

And why is it dogs getting blamed for noise. I hear kids outside all day playing. They don't just play - they scream! For hours!

Or how about those annoying car alarms that are set way too sensitive and go off and off and off and off......

Now I'm not one to be too upset by any noise going on. It's part of everyday living. The kids remind me of childhood, the dogs remind me of nature, and the car alarms remind me that I'm not that paranoid. But there are many people like my neighbour out there and they are literally waiting by the phone for noise to happen.

So how do you keep your dog quieter - stop excessive barking?

1. Make sure they get lots of exercise.

Not just running in the backyard but a daily walk. This prevents boredom barking...they get to see the outside world. They also have to concentrate and behave which takes a lot of energy.

2.  Get their quality time in.

You bought a dog not furniture right? All animals need love and companionship and will act out if they don't get it. Spend some time playing with your dog or brushing him.

3. Outside dogs can become protective dogs.

They are the dogs that think the yard is there's too protect and will bark at anything or anyone going by. Dogs should be brought into the home as well as outside.

I'll have to do another post on this because I have a lot to say about it. But dogs do not protect your house from the backyard and you do not protect them leaving them there.

4.  Do not let them continue with their barking.

A little barking is okay for purposes that are common to dogs. But warning barks and nonsense barks are two different things. If your dog is in a state of

Bark - Bark - Bark - Bark and on and on then you should be stopping it instead of allowing it.

5.  Use them for what they are bred for.

This gives them a sense of purpose in life and a way to exert energy that may otherwise come out in barking. If they are vermin catchers than mimic it with balls or moving toys. If they are water dogs then let them play in the nearest lake.

The point is to find out what makes them tick and use them for it. They'll appreciate it and you'll appreciate the quiet.

Some simple steps will make your dog bark less and hopefully save you any complaints from impatient grumpy asses.