how to stop your dog from barking at other dogs

To take their mind off the situation at hand, try distracting them by giving them a verbal cue to bring a toy, or go to bed. While there are various reasons why your dog could be responding in this way, by far the most common is fear. Dogs may also alarm bark when the phone rings. This can help to teach him that he needs to be quiet and stop barking no matter where he is in your home. Once your dog is barking on command, place a treat in front of its nose while it's barking to get it to stop and sniff. So until you can get good professional help, keep your dog out of trouble as much as you can. So in today’s post, I’m going to be showing you the easiest ways to put an end to your puppy’s obsessive barking habits. Social barking: this is when dogs will bark because they hear another dog close by barking.. 7. It’s not… It is, on the other hand, a problem you need to get on top of. If your dog struggles with the “speak” command, you may need to practice this command a bit more with your pup before you move on to the “stop barking” command. First and foremost, by avoiding all other dogs while out and about would be both challenging and difficult, you can avoid putting your dog in the direct path of conflict. You can also test this command at the dog park when the dog is around other dogs. How To Teach Your Dog Not To Bark At Other Dogs, Walking Strategies To Avoid This Behavior. The first thing you should do to stop your dog attacking other dogs is to carefully observe your pet to know what triggers its aggressive behavior. For more tips from our Veterinary co-author, including how to remove your dog’s motivations for barking, keep reading! Stop feeding treats as soon as your friend and their dog disappear from view. How Long do Labs Live? If your food is high value enough, your dog will start checking in with you more and more on the walk. They can analyze why your dog is afraid or aggressive and work with you to develop a plan that handles the issue safely. If your dog is barking at the fence, for instance, then chances are that they are doing this because they can hear or see things the other side of the fence. How to Stop a Dog From Barking - 3 Simple Tips. However, you can usually tell by the character of your dog’s bark, and also their behavior in general, if they are fearful or looking for fun. How to Teach Your Dog the Stop Barking Command, http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/675-barking-aspca#GzjSc1ZUzUoLORJl.99, http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/how_to_stop_barking.html, http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/how-to-teach-your-dog-the-stop-barking-command, http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/675-barking-aspca, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. If you suspect your dog is in a heightened state of arousal, pay extra attention while out on a walk. Then reward the dog with a high value treat or a favorite toy to show it that you want this behavior. Repeat these steps every time he starts barking at other dogs. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. In case you find another dog in front, and you can’t avoid him. As well as modifying the way that you walk your dog in order to limit their likelihood of engaging this type of behavior, you can also proactively train your dog to respond differently to the same situation. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. As a Chewy Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. You can also use a clicker when you say “speak” if your dog uses clicker training. Determine your dog’s reason for barking. Like barking and growling, whining is a way that dogs vocalize.There are a number of things your dog may be trying to tell you when it whines, whether it's asking for something it … How can I get my dog to stop barking at other dogs? Staying calm will help your dog stay calm and give you the presence of mind to better manage the situation. Which means that it can be hard to work out exactly why your dog is barking. If encountering other dogs when out and about is also a fear trigger for you, either as a result of earlier life experiences or the behavior of your dog, your dog will pick up on this fear and anxiety and it will exacerbate their own. X If you have a puppy barking at other dogs it probably won’t be long before his consistent yapping slowly starts driving you insane. In addition, from your dog’s point of view the aggressive display seems to work pretty well--after all, the other dog always goes away. All of these activities will help keep your dog’s attention on you and not on other potential threats. Below we discuss two of these professional methods on how to stop dog barking at … When you feel confident that your dog understands "quiet," have someone ring the doorbell, give the command, and reward your dog when it stops barking. When you see another dog approaching, you may also be tempted to order your dog to sit and stay, keeping them close as the other dog passes. Place a treat in front of your dog. Try to find routes and areas where there are few dogs. Ways to stop your dog barking at the fence. This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. Of course, if you want to stop your dog from barking at other dogs then you need to know what you have to do to get there. Both of these actions can make the situation worse, as again, we are showing our dog that the approach of another dog is a moment to be feared, and that can result in negative activities. It can be so frustrating when you are taking your dog for a walk, but need to battle with them every few minutes because they are barking or lunging at other dogs. When the other dog is out of your dog’s view, all treats stop. You may try practicing the “stop barking” command by the front door or by another area where your dog tends to bark uncontrollably. To get you started, we will go through exactly why your dog responds in this way to other dogs while on the leash, tips for walking your dog to minimize the likelihood of this happening, and how you can train your dog to have a new, more positive response. Ryan Corrigan is a Licensed Veterinary Technician in California. He should eventually stop barking to sniff the treat. Dogs have learnt through experience that behaving aggressively keeps other dogs, and humans, away. If your dog constantly barks, and their immediate needs like using the bathroom or being fed are met, you now must focus more on training your dog to stop barking so much in general. Adrenaline stimulating situations such as a recent negative encounter with another dog or even just playing with other dogs in shared spaces or barking at passers-by from behind a fence can flood your dog’s system with adrenaline. She received her Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology from Purdue University in 2010. If they are engaged with you in a fun activity, this other dog will seem significantly less important. Hold your dog on a loose leash; a tight leash can heighten reactivity. Over time we were able to get Linus to not bark at Buddy when we were out on walks. Also called "attention-seeking barking," request barking is a common problem for dog owners. Last Updated: January 9, 2021 Anxiety is contagious, so it is also important that you stay calm when you see other dogs approaching. If you have a dog that will bark and ‘sport’ at people or other animals a head halter, such as a Gentle Leader that enables you to close his mouth and guide him into an acceptable behavior is a big advantage. Stopping your dog from barking and lunging at other dogs while out on the leash is a matter of awareness. If the dog you’re walking is barking at another dog, what should you do? Keeping your walks both fun and challenging can also distract your dog from the potential threat of other dogs as they will be too busy focusing on you. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When you meet your dog’s barking with noise and attention, you are rewarding your dog by giving them the attention they are asking for. Feeding Your Labrador Puppy: What, How Much, How Often? As your friend and their dog come into view, start feeding your dog treats. It can also be perplexing if your dog is well-socialized and has few problems with other dogs when off-leash. Walking a dog who can’t get within sight of another dog without barking isn’t much fun. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Frustration-inducing barking: dogs will bark like this when they are frustrated by a certain situation, such as being in isolation.. Like this article? Dogs can normally bark at about 8 weeks, but it varies depending on breed. Linus was our reactive dog and he had a fear response to other dog’s when we were out on leash. While at this safe distance, allow your dog to notice the presence of the other dog and command them to stay calm if necessary. The other dog, however, should not be approaching your dog directly or circling them. Have a lot of treats handy and move the item a little bit closer to the object that prompts the barking. If your dog is a lunger, it can help to get a no-pull harness to limit the negative impact of this behavior. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This is a trial and error way to stop a dog from barking. To teach your dog the "stop barking" command, start by teaching it how to “speak” so you can control when it's allowed to bark. If your dog exhibits this type of behavior, it is usually a sign of fear, which can be exacerbated by the fact that they are on the leash, and therefore, have no way of getting out of this situation. Dog Behaviorist & Trainer. Once your dog starts barking, place a treat in front of his nose. However, it wasn’t until we started working on getting Linus to react differently that we saw some improvement. You may also do the necessary hand gesture or click the clicker to trigger him to speak. You should also make sure everyone in your household also uses the same commands and rules for your dog. Dogs will bark for a variety of reasons, and dog owners should be aware of the root cause of their dogs’ barking, according to Millman. @2020 - LabradorTrainingHQ.com. This article was co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN. How Do I Convince My Parents to Get a Dog? If your dog stops barking when they hear the cue, reward them. Or, your dog might really love other dogs! It is important for you to minimize the things your dog barks at by keeping a calm demeanor. One method is to desensitize your dog by continually exposing them to the company of other dogs. 3. Both of these are threatening behaviors that will overwhelm your efforts to train your dog. It can teach your dog to learn to accept others over a period of time. By using our site, you agree to our. When you have been successful, it is time to move progressively closer and repeat the activity. When your dog is caught up in fear and reacting on instinct, the best thing you can do is get your dog to a safe distance where the pressure and anxiety is lifted and they are better able to respond to and hear your commands. Don’t move too fast, as a major setback might see you starting again from scratch. It can also be a good idea to limit their exposure to these kinds of adrenaline raising situations in general. This article has been viewed 14,260 times. If your dog barks at other dogs on the home front, you can stop this behavior by controlling when he barks. This will, of course, take some time to train out of your dog, especially if she has been "rewarded" for her barking over many years. Praise your dog with a “Good job” or “Good work” and give him the treat. This means avoiding walking on sidewalks where they are likely to pass other dogs head on or changing your route, if you often encounter a dog that triggers this kind of behavior in your dog. Give the dog a couple of treats while the item is within sight. For example, if your dog is afraid of others dogs, helping her overcome that fear will also decrease her barking behavior. Instead, act calm and give the “quiet” command so your dog does not bark when someone is at the door. To change your dog’s response to other dogs, start working with your dog, standing still, at a distance where he can see another dog without reacting and where other dogs aren’t walking toward you. How Much Chicken And Rice Should You Feed Your Sick Dog? If they are ready to play, they will probably also start playfully jumping at you to try and get you involved in the game. This article has been viewed 14,260 times. Pain Reliever for Dogs: What Can You Give A Dog for Pain? Dogs consider walking directly towards another dog as both rude and aggressive. Keep rewarding him while he doesn’t react and start barking. We did all of the walking strategies in the above section which were all successful to an extent. If you treat things like they aren't a big deal, then so will your dog. Say ‘speak,’ then do something that will cause your dog to bark, such as knocking on the door. You can teach your dog the “stop barking” command by first teaching him the “speak” command. Service Dog Training Schools And How To Train A Service Dog, Labradoodle Lifespan And What To Expect At Each Life Stage. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog. Once your pet begins to bark, keep yourself and your dog away from the other dog. [1] It may be aggressive with large or small dogs, or even just when approached. Walk around him in an arc shape keeping your dog’s attention on you. If it's a very mild case, then you're best off just working with your dog in general on training and patience. Be patient and give your dog time to learn the “speak” command before you move onto the “stop barking” command. Mix up your speed, make circles and backtrack on yourself, pass through different terrains, and engage with obstacles. You can try this exercise, for example, at the edge of a lot where dogs get out to go to a dog park or pet store. Repeat these actions several times until your dog starts barking when you say “speak”. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. One fight can create a reactive dog. Don’t Reward Attention-Seeking Barking It is also a good idea to simply stay alert to other dogs approaching your path, and then changing the trajectory of your walk to both give a little bit more distance and avoid approaching them head on. As they grow in success, you can start to replace some of the treats with praise. Dogs need to get exercise and be taken out on walks regularly so they can see the world and socialize. Discontinue reinforcement. We then often pull on the leash in order to get them to stay close to us, especially if they are lunging. For dogs that are reactive to the presence of other dogs, there are humane and sound scientific approaches that will help in behavior modification. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011. Avoiding situations likely to trigger your dog’s fear response and also training them to associate encountering other dogs while out on the leash with positive interactions rather than negativity and fear is key. You can use a hand signal like clapping or snapping. Then, put it back into their range of vision, and give some more treats. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your article has a very nice presentation on how to stop a neighbor’s dog barking.Everywhere on the way, dogs from neighboring dogs make barking, which is very annoying.The only way to get rid of these annoying conditions is by ultrasonic bark control device which you mentioned in your article. Treat your dog when he walks next to you; if he pulls on the leash or crosses in front of you, stop walking. Your dog may start barking when they are feeling territorial, excited, playful, or want to get your attention. We want your dog to predict that other dogs near him means that YUMMY FOOD will appear! However, even the best trained dogs can give into their fear instinct in some situations. They are most likely barking either because they are bored or because they are upset. You will need to call their attention and reward them several times within the few minutes that they are observing the dog, so make sure to break the treats into very small pieces. Try ignoring the barking and waiting till your dog stops. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. First, go to an area where there are some dogs around and bring your dog on-leash. I get it. Too often dog owners see this as the cause of their dog’s behavior, wanting to see the best in their pooch. Their fear in this situation can also be exacerbated by the way that many of us walk our dogs. Linus did not react to Buddy from this distance so we rewarded and praised. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Physical corrections do not mean hitting, kicking or abusing your dog in any way. You may delay the reward for 30 seconds and then for one minute to ensure your dog understands he needs to be quiet. We started by having Linus walk on one side of a residential street and the other dog (we’ll call Buddy) walk on the other side of the street. And why do they act this way? Once you can control how often he speaks or barks, you can teach him how to stop barking when required. Compulsive barking: Also known as repetitive barking, which dogs will often do alongside lots of movement.. 6. Repeat the process multiple times. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You may do the “quiet” command when your dog spots another dog to ensure he does not bark. She is also a Member of the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians since 2011. A negative reaction from other dogs could set you back in your training. If a significantly larger dog starts lunging and barking at them, it is unreasonable not to expect them to give into their fear instincts. Try not to get your dog riled up when someone is at the door as this can lead to barking. Have you tried any of the techniques mentioned in todays article? But in reality, in the vast majority of cases, the cause of the behavior is fear. By asking them to go to bed, you will also remove them from the situation which means you can get on with answering the door or collecting the mail. How to Stop Dog Barking at other Dogs. Walk toward the other dog at an angle or perpendicular to the other dog, rather than head on. Training will involve taking your dog into the vicinity of another dog. You can significantly reduce the likelihood of your dog engaging in this type of behavior by engaging a few simple strategies while out on your walks. That means every time your dog blows up, he becomes a little likelier to try the same tactic next time. You can do this if you have other friends and family with dogs in the household. The sound will annoy your dog and stop him in the middle of his barking. Using this process, with time your dog will start to associate seeing other dogs while out on the leash with praise and reward rather than negativity and fear. You will even find dogs that bark out of boredom or out of frustration. As we walk our dog on the footpath, directly towards another person walking their dog on the footpath, we put them in an aggressive situation. Once your dog learns the calm verbal cue, you can use it during times of unwanted barking, such as the ring of a doorbell or the sound of other dogs barking, to prompt the quiet response (aka to stop the barking). But this can increase their anxiety, as again they are powerless to act as this threat is in the vicinity. If your dog is aggressive, then rather than trying to handle it yourself, you really do need to work with a professional. When we worked with Linus we created our own training situation by bringing in a well behaved dog to work with during our sessions. Tell your dog to stop by using a look that it will understand, a sound or a physical correction. How can I stop my dog from barking in the backyard? You can also learn how to prevent your dog from barking so he is less likely to be triggered and can stay calm. ], Useful Guide To Know The Difference Between American And English Labradors. This means avoiding walking on sidewalks where they are likely to pass other dogs head on or changing your route, if you often encounter a dog that triggers this kind of behavior in your dog. Walking your dog should be a relaxing, bonding experience for both you and your pet. I mean, if your dog won’t stop barking at night or drives your neighbors insane with incessant woofs and ruffs, it’s time to do something about it. Praise and reward when your dog barks, then add a command. Everyone wants an obedient dog that walks calmly on their leash and doesn’t bark their adorable little heads off at every dog, passerby, and car that’s on the route.. You want to know how to get your dog to stop barking!. Then, say “quiet” as soon as it stops barking, and give it the reward. For instance, whenever your dog sees another dog and then looks back at you, provide them with treats. 30 January 2020. Dogs will also bark around other dogs as a way to be social and communicate with them. The frequency of giving the treat is more important than the size of the treat. The Oldest? They have encountered an unusual dog that they don’t know, and because they are on the leash with you, they have no way of escaping the situation if this other dog challenges them. Expert Interview. Dogs are bound to bark, but excessive dog barking can become an annoying problem. What age does a dog start barking, and how can I instill or encourage barking? As they watch the other dog in a calm state, call their attention to you and give them a treat to reward their behavior. References. Fear is not the only reason why your dog might bark and lunge at other dogs while out on the leash. With their fight or flight instinct limited to fight in this situation, they try to scare the other dog away as a precaution to protect themselves. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Another way to prevent your dog from getting aggressive is to spot the early warning signs. Smaller breeds may require only a short walk outside or around the neighborhood on a daily basis to go to the bathroom and get some exercise. Have a friend with a dog stand out of sight or far enough away so your dog won't bark at the other dog. Try moving the item out of sight and stop giving treats. % of people told us that this article helped them. Out" and point away from your dog, and then calmly get between the other dog and your dog and walk toward the dog so that you are blocking him from getting to your dog and making your dog more boring. [Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Aspirin, & more! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 14,260 times. Any pet parent that has had the misfortune of living with a dog that’s especially talkative, knows how irritating barking dogs can be. If a dog is left outside by itself all day, they will get bored. For many of us, our natural instinct when we start to approach other dogs is to shorten our dog’s leash. Average Labrador Lifespan? Instead, reward the dog when they remain calm and look back at you. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a bit of basic obedience means your dog considers you to be the boss. It is also a good idea to simply stay alert to other dogs approaching your path, and then changing the trajectory of your walk to both give a little bit more distance and avoid approaching them head on. As Linus was successful we progressed increased the difficulty by having Buddy a little closer during our walks. This can stay in their system for a few days and make them more likely to respond with aggressive fear when encountering other dogs while on the lead. Teach your dog ‘speak’ and ‘quiet’ commands. They will need to learn to associate encountering other dogs while on the leash as something fun rather than something scary. Larger breeds may need longer walks outside and trips to the dog park to get some exercise. You may also delay the reward for “quiet” for longer periods of time to ensure your dog understands that “quiet” means to stop barking for a continued stretch of time. The key to this training is to teach your dog to associate seeing other dogs while out on the leash as a sign of something positive or fun, rather than a sign of something negative or threatening. Research source Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Teach-Your-Dog-the-Stop-Barking-Command-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Teach-Your-Dog-the-Stop-Barking-Command-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a7\/Teach-Your-Dog-the-Stop-Barking-Command-Step-1.jpg\/aid8169917-v4-728px-Teach-Your-Dog-the-Stop-Barking-Command-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"