Barking is a dog’s natural means of communication and it can be adorable, or it can be annoying! While some dogs rarely bark, others do it all the time and if you live in an apartment building this can be a huge problem for you and your neighbors.

Experts still aren’t sure why dogs bark and what they are trying to say, but any dog lover knows that there are different types of barks that mean different things. There is the high-pitched pain yelp, the strong single "Woof" meaning " "I’m Ready" be it for playtime, walk time or mealtime. But the barks associated with excessive barking behavioral problems are usually one of the following:

Fast and Furious

This is how nervous dogs bark at people or other dogs approaching or passing by.

Typical of small toy breeds.

Strong and Steady ( Sadie barks!)

This is how the protector responds to intruders approaching their territory. These dog may also give out strong steady barks when they hear noises outside or in the hall.

Urgent and Anxious with intermittent howling (fear).

Common bark of those suffering separation anxiety when they are feeling sad or lonely. This type of bark could also mean that there is something wrong. (don’t comfort the dog who is howling or barking out of fear. He will take your consolation as praise, as think it’s a good thing to be afraid, or that you are afraid too).

Your dog may love to bark, but he loves your approval more. Letting your dog know that you are not pleased with is noise making can be a powerful incentive to make him stop. Yelling at him is not the answer. He’ll think you’re joining in! Instead, try a bicycle horn or something that will create a loud startling noise.

When he stops barking, praise him immediately. This approach usually takes several attempts to begin taking effect, but it should help.

If your dog is outside, bring him in. Even if you have a comfortable, fenced in yard it’s not a good idea to leave your barker outside when you’re not around. The combination of sights and sounds with the boredom of being left alone can trigger hours of non-stop barking.

Get rid of the triggers. If she stands at the window talking to all the pedestrians, draw the curtains and close the blinds. Not only does it eliminate the visual stimuli provoking your territorial barker, but darkness tends to have a calming affect on most beings. Leave the radio or T.V. on. This way, she might not hear each and every little thing that’s going on outside.

Give him something to do. Many dogs bark just to hear their own voices, for lack of anything else to do. I’m sure you know at least one person like that too. Try one of those hollow rubber "Kong" toys filled with peanut butter or cheese. Your dog will keep himself busy for hours trying to get all the filling out from inside, and will hopefully, be too occupied to bark.

If all else fails, there are those special "No Bark " collars on the market. Don’t go for the electric shock type collars, those are just cruel. Look for a citronella collar. These bark activated devices

release a burst of citronella, a natural plant extract that is completely harmless. Dogs don’t like the smell and the "Pssssst" sound it makes when it releases the odor grabs their attention. But do this only as a last resort, because you don’t want to teach your dog that barking at all is wrong. Sometimes it is welcome and warranted. Don’t you think?

BACK TO DOGS