If your dog starts to bark and bark, the
sound may be overwhelming. Once your dog really gets going, it may also be
difficult for you to get your pet’s attention for long enough to stop
their bark. While the occasional bark is perfectly normal - it is your
dog’s way of getting your attention and communicating with you. Your dog
may even bark to say hello or to express a desire for attention. When your
dog just starts to bark and bark, though, you need to take specific action
to get your dog to stop:



•If you have been training your dog using a specific technique in order to
make your dog stop barking, it is important to continue with that
technique in order to prevent making your dog confused. For example, if
you have been using a training collar to teach your dog, use the collar
again, possibly at a slightly higher setting if your dog is barking too
hard to notice your first attempt to make him or her stop the bark fest.


•React right away. If you wait until your dog has been barking for several
minutes, it will be harder to make your dog stop the bark fest. It will
also not make your dog associate your actions with the bark.

•If you have no training collar handy, you can try startling your dog with
a loud noise. If you dog has a tendency to be nervous, though, a loud
“shh” or a gentle but firm “quiet” may be a more handy way to make your
dog stop the bark fest.

•One very effective technique that trainers use to make a dog stop an
unnecessary bark is to approach the dog as soon as it starts to bark, grip
them gently by the collar and gently press down on their muzzle. This is a
technique that mother dogs sometimes use to quiet their puppies and many
pet owners find this to be a very humane and effective technique to make a
dog stop barking. It must be put into action as soon as the dog begins to
bark, though.

•If it is hard to make your dog stop a bark fest, it is important to take
your dog to obedience school, get a special bark training collar that is
automatically activated, or to take your dog to a dog behavioral
specialist or vet. Repeated, prolonged barking is not good for your dog or
your relationship with your dog. You need to find an effective technique
to make your dog stop bark fests.