How to Reduce Barking

November 07, 2018

How to Reduce Barking

Our dogs communicate with us in many different ways, from poking us with their noses to putting their paws in our laps. The easiest way to get our attention however is to bark, and our dogs know this! The problem is, some dogs also bark when someone walks by, when they hear a noise at the door, or for just about anything else. Don’t give up just yet, you can find a way to slow down your dog’s barking and recognize when they need something.

 

Use a Mist Bottle

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and because of this their noses are tender to the touch. Get a water bottle that has a mist nozzle or something that won’t squirt them right in the eyes or nostrils. The tiny receptors around your dog’s nose are sensitive, and mist is gentle enough to catch their attention without harming them.

You can also add a small amount of citrus extract, dogs don’t particularly care for the scent of lemon and orange. Just remember that it doesn’t take much, and doesn’t need to be overbearing, just enough to make them say “hey, that stinks!” and stop barking.

If you aren’t comfortable making your own mixture, try Pet Corrector! It’s essentially the same idea, but the solution comes ready-to-use in it’s own special bottle

 

Calming Chews

Just like a nice cup of hot tea in the evening, calming chews and treats can actually make a huge difference in your dog’s behavior. They usually contain natural ingredients and don’t have to be prescribed by a vet. Look for active ingredients such as L-Tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid.


Both humans and dogs consume this amino acid through their daily meals, and if your dog’s food is relatively low in L-Tryptophan, it could cause their body to produce less serotonin. You can add chews or other forms of the supplement to their food once a day, or just on occasions when they’re experiencing an extra difficult bout of anxiety.

 

Non-Painful Corrective Collar

Shock collars are not recommended because they are painful, and their effectiveness is highly questionable. However, you can find alternatives that instead emit a high frequency sound that doesn’t hurt, but it is incredibly annoying for your dog. A good corrective collar shouldn’t operate on the sound of a bark, but the vibration of the vocal cords. This prevents the collar from randomly emitting the sound every time there’s a loud noise or another dog barks.

 

Make Sure You're Meeting Their Basic Needs 

If your pet is chewing through bedroom doors and tearing their crate apart to get out, that’s obviously a serious problem that may require professional help. However, it’s completely normal for some dogs to experience anxiety if they aren’t getting enough exercise or cuddle time with you. Dogs who are scared of fireworks and thunder tend to bark and growl, and in these cases they can definitely benefit from things like calming chews and other methods.

 

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