There are a couple of reasons why our canine companions would start to bark. However, while sometimes we welcome the various noises dogs make simply because they're funny, barking is often an inconvenience.
Now, most of the time, our dogs bark to warn us of danger. Although their sense of danger may be triggered by someone passing our apartment doors, their intentions are good. So, first and foremost, we must learn never to respond to barking with anger. Doing so will only aggravate your dog further. Instead, we should acknowledge the dog and comfort it. After all, the real reason why it's barking is that it's frightened.
Still, some dogs bark out of boredom as well
. That's where we have a chance to correct their behavior some more. However, often, just spending some more time with our pups and playing with them until they're tired is enough to curb this behavior.
Whatever our dogs' reasons for barking are, we ought to identify them before deciding upon a training program. Once we understand exactly why they're behaving this way, we'll be able to help them get past it. But before we talk about how we should handle our dogs' barking, let's discuss what not to do.
What Not to Do When Your Dog Starts Barking
As we have previously mentioned, getting angry with our pups for being afraid or trying to protect us is the last thing we'd want to do. So yelling at them, let alone punishing them, would be a big mistake. It would only further stress the dogs, which can be incredibly detrimental to their overall health.
However, while we don't want to punish barking, we certainly don't want to reward it either. Instead, we want to project a calm and confident visage and compel our pups to be quiet in different ways. Seeing that we're calm even when they're feeling threatened will suggest to the dog that there's nothing to be afraid of. When they're in a more stable state, we can suggest ways they can deal with the situation in the future.
What to Do When Your Dog Starts Barking in Alarm
Finally, let's talk about the correct course of action to take from the moment our dogs let out the first growl. Even before our dogs start barking, there are a few signs we may be able to catch. Their ears might twitch or move back if they're feeling aggressive. Additionally, we may see the fur on their back rise. Then, they might start with a low growl or go right into a bark unexpectedly.
We understand why sudden barking may startle or even anger some people. But, once again, it's important to keep in mind that our dogs are never doing it to annoy us.
So what do we do next?
To begin with, we can remove the barking dog from the situation. Sometimes, that would mean taking it into a different room. However, if we're outdoors, stepping in front of the dog should be enough. If you've worked on hand commands with your dog, you should use the command to stand down.
However, the dog may be too upset to hear or see any command. If that's the case, we can gently pet the dog and talk to them until they stop feeling threatened. Once the dog has settled down, we can reward them with a treat and even try issuing another command. For example, telling the dog to sit or lie down might get their mind off the threat.
It also helps to know what our pups are afraid of or generally threatened by. Remember the dogs your dog usually interacts with aggressively, noises it dislikes, and other such stimulants. With a bit of practice, you'll be able to predict when your dog is about to start barking and nip it in the bud!
If you need help with barking, please don't hesitate to contact Naples Top Dogs, we'd be glad to help!