Dogs bark for many reasons, alerting their
owners to danger, protecting themselves, in
play, or simply out of boredom or need for attention.
The best way to silence a barking dog is to
make sure the dog is a behaviorally sound member
of the family- that means an inside pet. Dog
rescue groups take in hundreds or thousands
of dogs every year from owners who complain
that they just won’t stop barking. 99
times out of 100 that dog never nuisance barks
again after being placed in a foster home with
attention and love and toys to play with.
If you have a dog who is barking inappropriately
don’t run right out and get a collar.
It is easy to misuse an electronic collar or
a citronella collar and end up with a dog who
runs from you, urinates all over themselves
submissively, or will never bark even to alert
you to an intruder to your home or a stranger
talking to your child through the fence.
Many people have taught their dog not to bark
inappropriately by just using a spray bottle
of water, a can of pennies, or a firm "no".
Trained dogs are happy, intellectually fulfilled
dogs! Taking your dog to an obedience class
would help them feel occupied (even when their
not in class) and help them be a better family
companion. Even spending 5 minutes a day teaching
your dog tricks would delight the kids and give
your dog something to look forward to.
