A dog has two ways to communicate: body language and barking.  As this is a form of communication for dogs, there are reasons why your dog is barking.  Understanding the reasons will help you properly manage and resolve excessive dog barking issues that is causing quite a problem in your house and in your neighborhood.

1)  Your dog barks as a form of warning.  This type of bark is usually started with a low, menacing growl followed by a loud series of sharp bark.  Usually, this is heard when your dog senses that someone is approaching.  To fully understand this bark, see if you have a friend who’s got a dog that has just given birth, ask if you could visit.  Try to walk near while the dog is nursing and you will hear that distinct bark.

1. Solution: try to see what’s eating your dog.  This type of barking is the one that should not be ignored for it may signify an intruder.  But once you notice that the dog is barking at a person you know but he’s not familiar with, hold the dog by the collar and say “STOP” in a firm voice.  Don’t tug at the collar for you may injure your dog’s wind pipe.  Maybe your neighbor’s dog or cat is at your yard and it’s making your dog irritated for your dog’s territory is being invaded.  Scoot the invader away and then tell your dog to “STOP!”  The moment your dog stops barking, praise him and tell him he’s a good dog for knowing how to stop barking.

2)  Your dog is trying on alert.  This form of barking is characterized by low, staccato-like barks.  This behavior is observed whenever the door bell or telephone would ring, or when someone you know is approaching.

1. Solution: see what’s captured your dog’s interest.  If it’s the doorbell, tell your dog “STOP” and when he does, say he’s a good dog for telling you about the door bell.  The same goes for the telephone.  Now, if you still cannot order your dog to stop barking have friend over and ask her to help train your dog.  What your friend can do is ring the doorbell every now and then.  Every time your friend would ring the bell, command your dog to STOP and SIT.  Wait a couple of seconds, and praise your dog or give him a treat.  Tell your dog that one bark is enough when the doorbell rings, then repeat the process again.  The same procedure can be done with the telephone.

3)  Your dog is longing for company, or bored.  When dogs are having separation anxiety issues, they can incessantly bark and howl while you’re gone.  Dogs are pack animals.  This means that your family is not treated as an individual, but a group in which he sees himself as a leader, or the one being led.  If you are gone, as a leader he would worry about your safety.  As the one being led, your dog will feel lost when left alone. This bark is also observed when you put your dog in a kennel, crate, or leash for the first time.

1. Solution: of all the types of barking problems, this is the hardest to correct for it happens during your absence. Behavioral modification can be the only solution to this problem.  You have to train your dog to wait for you while you’re gone.  Address your dog’s separation anxiety issues by leaving the house for a couple of minutes and coming back in just before your dog starts to bark.  Whenever you leave and arrive home, don’t make a fuss.  Tell your dog firmly and as short as possible that you’ll be gone and be back after a couple of hours, then leave.  When you get back, painful as it may seem, ignore your dog for 15 minutes, or until he’s calmed down.  Rub his neck and don’t say you miss him, that you’re glad to see him.  Just rub him and say he’s a good dog for not barking too much while you’re gone.  As for the kennel, crate, and leash issue, you have to introduce him to it slowly.  Don’t just dump your dog in or tie him.  An abrupt curtail in freedom is not what every dog would like, especially if the dog grew up being free to roam around the house.

4)  Your dog is in pain. A dog in pain will give a series of yelps.  It may be because his paw or tail got stuck on something, someone threw a stone or a stick at him, or he may be having some medical condition that needs attention… or your dog may be in labor.

1. Solution: immediately see what caused your dog to yelp.  Unstuck his paw or tail, and sooth him by rubbing him and giving comforting words.  You may want to put ice on the affected part to lessen the pain.  If there is no obvious cause and your dog is yelping, not eating, has labored breathing, bring him to the vet to see if there is a medical condition is causing a problem.  If your dog is recovering from a major operation, make sure you stick to the pain medication regimen to lessen his pain.

5)  Your dog wants to play. Low, short, repetitive barks will come from your dog whenever he has the desire to play with you.  Usually, your dog will bark this way when you get his leash, favorite toy, or Frisbee.

1. Solution: Always give your dog playtime, even for just 15-30 minutes a day.  Each dog, especially a puppy, would always want to have some physical activity to release some pent up energy.  Play time can be very good for dogs, especially when your dog has separation anxiety issues.  This can prevent your dog from getting bored and keep him from distracting you and your neighbors.

If your dog is still barking non-stop you can buy either a spray bottle or a citronella dog collar.  Whenever your barks spray him with the spray bottle set on squirt mode.  Don’t use a squirt gun, the point here is to get your dog’s attention and not play with or traumatize him.

Tell him why you had to use the squirt gun and tell him that one bark should be enough.  A citronella dog collar works on the same principle.  The collar has a sensor attached that monitors the vibration in your dog’s throat. Whenever your dog barks, the vibration will set off the collar and would spray a dose of citronella.  The odor is quite strong for your dog’s sensitive nose, and most dogs do not like the scent.

Try to line your garden with citronella plants and you’ll notice that your dog will not approach the side that has citronella in it.  Most dog owners prefer a citronella dog collar to other collars that deliver an electric shock to a dog.  Just remember that if your dog has separation anxiety, giving a dog collar while you’re away will not help his condition, but only make it worse.  Address your dog’s separation anxiety first before utilizing a dog collar for behavioral modification.

It can be very hard to train a dog to stop excessive barking.  But in time, coupled with patience and practice, your dog will become a well-behaved canine that is adored by your neighbors.