Bark Dog Training
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Training a dog not to bark is one of the
most challenging parts of being a pet owner. A dog may bark for any number
of reasons, including pain, some distraction, irritation, or as a way to
express loneliness or seek attention. Your dog may bark because he or she
hears something nearby, because he or she wants to communicate with
another dog barking in the distance, or because he or she sees something
that upsets or intrigues. Some dogs will even bark when afraid.
Not surprisingly, then, one of the first things you must do when training
your dog not to bark is to try to determine whether your dog is barking
for a reason. Is your dog trying to communicate something with you through
barking? Is your dog’s bark one of pain or anger or a bark with a howl of
loneliness? If so, the answer may be as simple as taking care of the
underlying problem. If your dog is barking because you have recently
moved, your pet may not need training so much as extra assurance and
attention from you to prevent extended bark sessions.
If, on the other hand, your dog tends to bark enthusiastically - and loud
- at any passing squirrel or rustling leaf, you will have to undertake
training to teach your dog not to bark unnecessarily. There are most
likely a number of training or obedience schools in your area, and the
trainers at these schools can help train your dog not to bark
unnecessarily. Fees for such training vary widely, but generally if you
take your dog to a group class, you can save money on obedience school
while still helping train your dog not to bark.
If you decide to undertake training yourself, you will have to respond
quickly each time your dog starts to bark. You will need to get your dog
to associate something unpleasant with barking. This can be something as
simple as negative attention - a “no” said in a firm voice - or something
more complicated, like a burst of citronella from a training collar.
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