How to Stop Dog Barking Without Hurting Your Dog or Puppy

So you want to know how to stop dog barking without hurting your beloved pets? There are tested and proven strategies for dog barking that don’t require using fear or pain!

Barking dogs can be an absolute nightmare! From yapping puppies, to barking dogs around the house, to sad dogs whining at home because they’ve been left on their own — barking can quickly get into our nerves.

And the good news is you are NOT alone in this struggle!

And because I have helped thousands of dog owners find the best solution for their dog’s barking problem, I’m going to share the best ways you can approach dog barking.

Read on to learn more.

Key Takeaways:

  • A dog barking is simply not acting out. There’s always an underlying reason that triggers barking.
  • Triggers like separation from owner, fear, and danger are some of the biggest reasons for dog barking.
  • Instead of shouting at your dog, or using painful shock collars to stop dog barking, you can use a positive, kinder approach such as timeouts.

LEARN HOW TO STOP DOG BARKING WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE™️

Table of Contents:

  1. How to Stop Dog Barking: It’s the Most Common Problem for Dog Owners
  2. How to Stop Dog Barking: Know Why Your Dog is Barking
  3. Ways on How to Stop Barking: Five BIGGEST Reasons Why Dogs Bark + What to Do
  4. 5 Ways on How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking WITHOUT Hurting Them
  5. Conclusion: The Secret on How to Stop Dog Barking is Knowing The Right Reason AND Right Solutions

How to Stop Dog Barking: It’s the Most Common Problem for Dog Owners

In fact I was working with one dog owner and their pet yesterday!

There’s this poor little Golden Doodle who was annoying the neighbors.

The owners felt so bad; they were tempted to use an electric shock collar on him! They decided to have a consultation with me before going to the last resort.

how to stop dog barking

The problem of the dog owners above is very common. Dog barks, owners don’t know how to properly solve the issue, dog continues barking, and frustrated dog owners opt for the harsh solution.

That should not be the case.

So in today’s post I’m going to show you the simple techniques (techniques I’ve used to train over 88,000 dogs) to stop all this barking WITHOUT using any force, fear or gadgets that may hurt your dog.

INFLUENCE DOG BEHAVIOR FOR THE BETTER WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE

And because this approach is all about dealing with cause of the problem and not just the symptom, it results in a much happier dog…and that will result in a much happier YOU (and neighbors too)!

How to Stop Dog Barking: Know WHY Your Dog is Barking

To know how to stop barking, it’s crucial that we understand the root cause of why our dogs are barking non-stop.

The most common reasons for non-stop barking are anxiety, aggression, and restlessness. Dogs use barking to call other dogs, express emotions, guard their territory, or if they want to call their owner’s attention.

how to stop dog barking

It’s always different for each dog! Some dogs bark because of fear, some because of anxiety, and some because it’s the only way to communicate.

How To Stop Dog Barking: It’s Important to Know the Reason Why

First of all we have to identify WHY your dog is barking, because the solution we use is not always going to be the same.

After all, you’d never use the same approach to stop a child who was shouting out for help as a child who was screaming at you for more chocolate, now would you?

In fact, once you correctly identify why your dog is barking, stopping the noise becomes one of the easiest behavioral issues to prevent.

You see, the reason your dog is barking is because they’re not happy about something. Put another way, they are looking for help!

Here are the four most common reasons that dogs and puppies bark that I gathered from years of dealing with dogs with barking problem.

It’s not a comprehensive list but most dogs and puppies will fall into one of these categories. Once you’ve decided which one best describes YOUR dog, then take a look at the action plan to put an end to it once and for all.

how to stop dog barking

Ready?

Important Note: I should add here that many years ago (when I was pretty new to dog training) I used to think that barking could all be sorted out with the same approach. Now I’m a few years older and wiser (hee hee), and I can see the error of my ways.

I’ve realized it’s so much easier to stop barking if you FIRST correctly understand why your dog is barking. And then apply an appropriate solution. Kind of makes sense, doesn’t it?

DISCOVER WHAT AFFECTS DOG BARKING, AND HOW TO CHANGE IT WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE

Ways on How to Stop Barking: Five BIGGEST Reasons Why Dogs Bark + What to Do

Reason #1: Barking Because They Want Something

Dogs bark to communicate their displease or their request for something else.

Barking occurs when your dog wants something, just like a nagging child. They’re not happy and they’re letting you know about it. Dogs bark to let you know they want to come inside, or be let out of the crate, or be given some food, or when they simply want your attention.

how to stop dog barking

Ever had your dog tell you to speed up with their dinner? Yep? Well that’s what I’m talking about.

Or bark at you again and again because they want you to throw the ball? That’s this one!

Focus and Solution: If Your Dog Barks, Don’t Reward Bad Behavior

The key to stop your dog from barking to get attention is not rewarding any bad behavior.

For example, if your dog is barking outside to come inside, don’t let them in (I know it’s tempting and you don’t want to upset the neighbors) but if you reward them with what they want then it will happen again and again.

Think of it as a little short term pain for some long term gain!

So simply wait and ignore your dog until they’re calm and then open the door. They’ll get the message pretty quickly.

Imagine a child shouting at you to do something, would you just give in to them? No! Hopefully you would wait until they were calm. It’s the same approach.

(Now if you are thinking “Well that won’t work with our little Rover, he NEVER gives up”, then there are a lot of other tips and tricks which will convince even the most stubborn barking dogs that it’s best to be quiet, which I’ve added at the end.)

LEARN HOW TO TEACH GOOD BEHAVIOR TO PUPPIES WITH THE PUPPY COACH™️

Reason #2: Dogs Are Barking Because They Think They Are in Danger

In your dog’s eyes, there is danger that needs to be dealt with. It’s important to note that barking in the midst of danger stems from your dog’s protectiveness. Dogs bark because they want to alert you or ward off the perceived harm.

This can occur inside or outside the house.

However to keep things simple let’s imagine that it’s inside the house. Your dog hears a noise and jumps up, runs over to the window and starts barking at the people outside your house.

Of course your dog could be barking at other dogs, a noise they’ve heard or something as small as a bird in a tree.

Whatever it is, imagine that there’s no need for your dog to respond with barking. And what we want to communicate to our dogs is “There is no need to bark.”

But first lets look at where it all goes wrong! Now what typically happens here is:

Your dog barks…

You shout something at them in a very authoritative manner…

Only to find that your dog barks again even louder. Eventually, it all starts to escalate!

In the end, you will find yourself shouting your head off and your dog barking back at you “I’m barking as loud as I can!”

Sounds familiar?

Focus: Stay Calm and Check it Out

If you’re wondering how to stop dog barking, especially when its triggered by fear of danger, I have one important advice: Calm down.

Relax. When you’re more relaxed, your dog will start to see that there is no need to worry. Because dogs mirror your energy, show a calm demeanor. Don’t rush around, or panic!

When they bark, simply say something like “Thank You”, in a VERY gentle voice like whispering in someone’s ear.

If they continue with the barking, go and take a look out the window and again say “Thank You” again very softly, before walking away.

Now I know this may seem odd, BUT it makes total sense to your dog – I promise!

How can showing a calm demeanor and checking your dog’s concern stop dog barking?

What you’ve just done is checked out the danger (even if it was just a bird in a tree) and calmly communicated to them using your body language, the tone of your voice and your energy that there’s no need to worry.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE DOG BARKING BEHAVIOR. START NOW WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE.

If they continue barking after you’ve done this then you can very calmly pop them into time out for a couple of minutes.

Of course with all dog training the more your dog takes notice of YOU the better!

If your dog is not taking a blind bit of notice then we need to go back a couple of steps and get their focus and attention first!

Reason #3: Non-stop Dog Barking Because of Separation Anxiety

This is what’s generally known as “Separation Anxiety” because your dog becomes anxious after separating from you. I should add here that this stress results not only in barking, but can also manifest in destructive behaviour, chewing, injuring themselves, escaping, and excessive digging.

stop dog barking

The great news is that the following approach will remove the cause of the problem and with it the stress. So all of these issues will disappear.

Barking Because of Separation Anxiety is NOT “Naughty Behavior”

When they have separation anxiety, barking is a form of calling for help for dogs. This has nothing to do with boredom which is why using a shock collar to try to stop this behavior is such a cruel idea. Let me explain.

Imagine you were sitting at home looking after your young child and suddenly noticed the toddler out on the street! What would you do?

Of course you’d rush out and get them.

But what if the doors were locked and you couldn’t get out? Would you sit down, relax and have a cup of tea? Of course not. You’d shout for help and call your child back, or try and break free so you could get to them.

And THIS is why your dog becomes stressed.

barking behavior dogs

You see, when our dogs think they are in charge, and responsible for looking after us, they automatically get very stressed when you leave. That’s why it only occurs when you are not there.

Make sense?

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Focus: To Stop Dog Barking Due to Separation Anxiety, Become the Pack Leader

Now in this situation I want to give you an overall idea of what to do and what not to do.

The key thing is to realise that your dog or puppy’s barking has got NOTHING to do with boredom!

This means that trying to keep your dog occupied by leaving bones down and loads of chews and toys stuffed with peanut butter are unlikely to work. In fact it can make things much worse, so pick up the food.

Really, if it solved the problem everyone would say “Hey, your dog’s barking – leave a bone down!”

Instead what I would focus you on doing is giving your dog the message you are the Pack Leader and there is no need for them to worry about where you are.

Now one way you can do this is by leaving your home calmly and then coming home calmly and ignoring your dog. (I know this may sound a bit harsh to some of you, and it may not be what you want to do, but this advice is all about doing what’s best for your dog and how to stop the barking!)

To Stop a Dog From Barking, It’s Also Essential That You Learn to Ignore Your Dog

Also, remember they are a different animal, and just like ignoring the cat or a goldfish when you enter the house it will not result in them being upset.

dog behavior barking

In fact this is one of the key ways you can HELP your dog relax when you are not there.

It gives your dog the message that YOU are in charge, not them, and as explained above, it will help them stop worrying about you when you are not around. When you’re ready, you can always call them over to you, on your terms, for love and cuddles.

Now of course there’s a lot more to becoming the Pack Leader. It’s an essential key to having a happy, obedient dog, which I’ll touch on later.

Reason #5: Over-Excited Barking

The best way to think of it is to imagine some children playing… then you’ll get the idea of what is going on… They start to have fun, then they get excited, then they start shouting and then start yelling!

Bottom line is they are NOT being naughty, but it can be really annoying, and it’s certainly something you want to keep handle of.

Now of course with children, shouting at them does NOT work! And it’s the same with your dog.

If the barking is starting to get out of control as they race around the garden playing, here’s what to do.

Focus: Calm Actions

First you need to step in and take control of them calmly without a word and then demonstrate calm energy by doing one of the following two actions or a combination of both:

Option 1. The Calm Freeze:

Here’s how to use the Calm Freeze to pacify your dog:

  • Take your dog by the collar, using an underhand grip, under the chin, palm facing up.
  • Say nothing, look away and breathe slowly and deeply.
  • Hold them for a couple of seconds until they are calm.
  • Then release the hold and stand up…

They will be much calmer. See the video below

Option 2. Stop-Start-Change-Direction:

  • Here you first attach a lead.
  • Then simply walk your dog around changing direction every second or two.
  • Again, what you’re doing is taking control of your dog calmly. Then you’re calmly showing them how to behave.
  • In both the above examples, there is no need to speak. The aim is to calm your dog’s energy with your actions.
  • Silence is very powerful and dogs respond to it. In fact it may surprise you just how well they respond when you give it a go!

When you’re trying to calm excited dogs it may take some repetition, however dogs are smarter than you think and they’ll soon work out what you are asking for.

LEARN MORE WAYS TO STOP DOG BARKING WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE!

5 Ways on How to Train Your Dog to Stop Barking WITHOUT Hurting Them

As with many things in life there are lots of shortcuts and ways of making things easier for yourself. So here are some big tips to help you get to your end goal quicker.

#1: Your Energy is Everything

Dogs are super sensitive and pick up on our deepest emotions and slightest body movements. If you think of your dog as like your mirror, then you will start to understand that the calmer you are, the more chance your dog will be relaxed.

Here are a few things to practice which will help you achieve success.

Speak less

Often our voices betray our fears, we end up talking too fast and too much, and our dogs pick up on concerns and panic.

Breathing

Breathing slowly and deeply is the simplest way to slow your heart rate and calm your body.

Focus your mind

Visualize exactly what you want you and your dog to do. Now there is no room in your mind for anything else but success.

Watch an example of my two dogs demonstrating this calm energy perfectly with a young, over-excited barking dog.

How to stop a dog barking

#2: Control the environment

If things are getting out of control then learning to control the environment is the first stage you need to master.

The key concept is to keep control at all times. In other words DO NOT LOSE control of your dogs (think of a horse that has bolted from a stable)…a dog who is off leash and does not respond to a recall is by definition “out of control”.

To avoid this situation you need to leave a short or long line (as in the video above with the barking dog) on them so you can take control quickly and calmly when you need it. At the same time your dog still gets to run around.

Eventually when the recall is up to scratch you can remove the lines altogether and just rely on good old verbal recall to get your dog to come!

BECOME THE PACK LEADER THE DOGS CAN TRUST AND RESPECT. START NOW WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE.

#3: Become the Pack Leader

The more your dog respects you and sees you as the Pack Leader the more they will listen to you.

Unfortunately good information on this topic is hard to come by and so while most dog owners believe that they are the Pack Leaders, their dogs DO NOT!

Here’s why…

“To help a dog you need to think like a dog!

You would never think like a bird or a fish and apply bird or fish psychology to your dog! And yet most of us are applying our human psychology to our dogs and expecting them to be impressed!”

Our dogs are totally different animals…for example: take a goldfish. Would you put them on the couch, make them a cup of coffee and turn on the TV for them…No, of course not. They’re not human!

And it’s the same with your dog. The way that you communicate to them that you are the Pack Leader is COMPLETELY different to how most people think.

#4: Set Your Dog Up to Win

No matter what training you do with your dog, setting them up to win is the best approach.

This will return the best results, both in terms of minimum time and effort.

Very often we push things too fast and do not realise that our dogs are struggling with the speed that we are progressing. Then things fall apart and we all get stressed. By slowing the training down, dogs relax more and start to succeed!

This includes finishing on a high rather than continuing until your dog gets tired, can’t cope and starts to fail!

#5: Be Consistent

The more you can get everyone onboard with what you are doing the better.

This means it’s best if:

  • Everyone in the house is up to speed with the plan and what’s going on
  • Everyone in the house follows the plan at all times
  • And sticks with it!

PUPPY COACH: THE BEST PROGRAM FOR TRAINING PUPPIES

How to Stop Dog Barking: Learn the BEST Training Principles From the Dog Calming Code

Do you want to know how you can help your dog with their separation anxiety so they’ll stop with the barking?

Are you eager to become the pack leader in your dog’s eyes so they’ll know it’s okay to relax because YOU are in charge?

Do you want to know how to encourage obedience to your dog without using force or fear?

You will learn all of that and more from my Dog Calming Code program.

After helping almost 88000 dogs using the principles of the Dog Calming Code, I can truly say that I found the formula to calmer dogs and happier dog owners!

Dogs have become less stressed and anxious, and owners finally know how to communicate in dog language, and dog psychology.

You can learn more by checking the Dog Calming Code program here.

Conclusion: The Secret on How to Stop Dog Barking is Knowing The Right Reason AND Right Solutions

I just shared the most common reasons that dogs bark, with a plan of action on putting a stop to it, along with 5 tips on how to accelerate your dog’s training.

Quick note: patience is king. I love to emphasize that dogs follow what is natural to them. Sometimes, barking to protect and communicate with you is the most natural thing they know, and it will take several tries to re-train them.

Remember; taking the time to understand WHY our dogs are actually barking will result in happier dogs and therefore happier owners 🙂

You got this!

~ Doggy Dan 😄

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Doggy Dan

Doggy Dan is the founder of The Online Dog Trainer, a wildly successful online training program for dog owners. His goal is to continue to share his unique approach to dog training with like-minded people who wish to make a difference in the world of dogs. His training methods focus on creating and building the connection between dogs and dog owners, and are shared and used around the world.

133 Responses

  1. Hi, Great article and love the tips – will follow your blog. We never ever had a pet of any kind ever. Got a F1B Bernedoodle 2 months ago- and its overwhelming when she barks and bites. We are in Brisbane, Australia. Taara is smart and now 19 weeks old (DOB 26/05/21)
    She barks and bites not when we are playing, It’s when she wants to play and I am standing still actually and she starts biting n growling and barking .
    We have been doing the play dead n also moving to another room but she still does it even when there is no stimulation for her ☹️ She also barks when she wants more treats. I have now tried leaving her outside and blocked her pet door – she calmed down for a minute and I got her inside. But the behaviour is consistent. its her way of asking to play and to get treats. On advise of a trainer I have started putting gentle pressure on her neck to make her sit down and stare till she stops. it works but starts again after some time and I don’t like to do that. Any help pls?

    1. Hi Manj, barking and biting/mouthing are very normal puppy behaviours but they are also ones you can overcome with the correct approach. Using force, pain or discomfort is not something we recommend as it doesn’t teach the dog/puppy anything that will solve a behaviour effectively for the long-term…..as you say, your puppy returns to her unwanted behaviours quite quickly after doing as the other trainer advised you. My approach is aimed at teaching a puppy to use self-control, so that they choose to no longer do the behaviour as it doesn’t achieve them anything. If you respond to barking or mouthing/biting verbally or by giving the puppy attention then it will feel that the behaviour works for them and they will continue to do it….maybe even escalate it as well. I’m certainly not advising you to just ignore this behaviour, just that the correct response is important and can make all the difference in solving the behaviour effectively and for the long-term. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has an extensive video library and course about how to raise happy and well behaved puppies…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

  2. Hi, thank you for your article. I have a 2 year old Cavoodle who barks for all 4 reasons on your list. When she goes in the garden she barks at anything that moves, then she doesn’t stop barking. A dog lives on either side so that doesn’t help. We try and stay calm with her and most of the time she continues barking. We tried the calm freeze, however, it doesn’t work as we have a large backyard and open plan house and we end up chasing her around where she thinks this is a game until we catch her and pick her up to make her stop barking. We know this isn’t good but we have no other way to stop her barking and we don’t want to annoy the neighbours. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Katie

    1. Hi Katie, thanks for your feedback on my Blog. When dealing with barking around your property, especially if it’s a large one, there are definitely tools and strategies that can help quite a lot. Being in control of your environment, by making your dog’s world smaller, can make managing her barking that much easier and avoids you having to chase her around too much. You can use barriers, baby-gates or just keep doors closed so she is not able to run about too much. Another option is to have a short/long-line attached to her collar so that if you do need to take hold of her then you have a decent amount of line to be able to do that……maybe grab it as she runs past!
      There are a few more factors that will help overcome this behaviour, if you are not already on my membership website then it may be worth you taking a look as it has an extensive section on barking and we have a Forum where you can ask our experts for advice….its a $1USD trial for 3 days…All the Best, Doggy Dan

  3. I have a 3 year old Czech GSD training for Search and Rescue. Her bark alert is essential and is good and strong. We certify our dogs under the IRO standard. Which means we test almost every year. In testing we must converse with the judge before search and before obedience tests. At these points my dog is barking and carrying on and we can’t hear each other. I don’t know how to calm her.
    Elwood

    1. Hi Elwood… I absolutely agree with you, there is nothing wrong with a dog barking to let you know there may be an issue! However, what we also want our dogs to know is that if we reassure them that everything is ok then they should then stop barking. Barking sue to being over-stimulated/excited is often a different issue and if you can help bring your dog’s excitement levels down then they will find it easier to stop barking. Try gently holding your dog by the collar, or just hold their leash shorter in length, and hold them still besides you…all without speaking to them or making eye contact, you want to avoid adding energy to the situation. It may also help to move your dog away from the action a little or at least try to turn them away from it. The calmer you are the more able your dog will be in also calming down. Taking a few deep and slow breathes (like deep sighs) yourself can help your dog as well. There are other strategies you can use to help your dog follow your cues better in these situations, my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  4. My puppy will not stop barking at my daughter and son in law who have come to visit. Its just her and myself so when anyone stops by she will not stop barking. I have tired everything and nothing is working . I’m at my wits end is there any thing I can do other than a bark cellar which people say to do but I dont want to do that. I think its cruel

    1. Hi Lorraine…have you tried calmly placing your puppy out of the room when she starts to bark? Leave her out for a couple of minutes until she is quiet for around 10-15 seconds and then bring her back into the room again. If she starts to bark immediately place her back out of the room for a slightly longer period and repeat as necessary. Also asking your guests to initially delay greeting her will help, including avoiding eye contact with her. Having her on-leash until she is calm will allow you to manage her behaviour better as well. Dogs do view strangers as potential threats…even though you know that’s not the case so showing her that you are calm and happy in their presence will also be helpful…shouting at her to ‘be quiet’ will not! Hope that helps…Best, Doggy Dan

  5. Hi,

    I have a 2 year old Maltese/shihtzu

    when at my mums having dinner we leave her and my other dog in the front room shut in with a gate to stop them getting any food that dropped my little nieces. she knows its likely to happen so pesters around them.

    she will constantly bark at the gate and it drives me absolutely MAD to the point I end up eating my dinner on the sofa so she stops.

    i’m sure this isn’t helping the issue but I don’t know what to do, I would really appreciate any advice!!

    1. Hi Zoe…dogs are way too smart for their own good, especially when it comes to food! If your dog is barking at the gate then try putting her in a room where she is on her own, and where she cannot see you, for a few minutes or until she is quiet for 5-10 seconds. Place her back in the front room and if she starts to bark at you again then place back in the other room for a lightly longer period. The aim is to show her that barking at you means she will end up in a room that is isolated from you, so you may need to follow through a few times until she links her behaviour with the consequence. She will then start to use a little more self-control and remain quiet so she can remain closer to you. Hope that helps…Best, Doggy Dan

  6. we brought home a new dog (E) (who was really an old dog of ours so already know us but not ) and now our other dog (L) will NOT stopping barking at E. L’s tail is wagging a bit and she doesn’t seem angry, but she is incessantly barking in E’s face. I can’t tell if she’s doing it out of anxiety or “danger” like you said above or some other reason altogether and I have no idea how to stop it. Any ideas?

    1. Hi Maria, introducing a new dog into a household where there is already another dog can take a little patience. Both dogs will need time to get used to each other and work out a relationship together. There are certainly things you can do to ensure they both start off on the right foot…..such as giving them both the space they need to get used to each other’s presence. If L will not stop barking at E then calmly place L out of the room when he starts to bark, there’s no need to say anything to her just respond calmly. We want her to know that if she barks she will end up spending a little time on her own until she is calm again. Make sure you are consistent with your response and she will soon learn to moderate her own behaviour. Best, Doggy Dan

  7. Hi Dan,
    I’m currently house sitting for a friend with a JRT. He is crate trained and seemed fine with being left in his crate the first day I was there, but last night I came back to a note from one of the neighbors (they live in an apartment) saying that the dog was barking for over 2 hours while I was gone. When I got in I saw that he’d gotten out of his crate so I assumed that was why he was barking, but this morning I left for work (walked him and crated him first) and just made a quick stop outside the door to listen for any barking before I left and he was whining and crying. I ended up taking him with me to work because I was afraid he’d start up again, but I’m at a loss for what to do. They didn’t pay me for over-nights, so I really don’t want to stay there but I also don’t want to dog barking all night. I messaged the owners, but they offered little advice – just make sure the crate is securely closed and he should be fine. I know it’s not really my problem if the owners get in trouble with the management, but I also know that the dog clearly isn’t happy. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Hi Leslie,
      Whenever there is a change in a dog’s routine or environment it can lead to a change in their behaviour. The dog is likely used to his family being home with him at night and maybe not spending as much time in his crate and he has become unsettled by that. While you and his family know that they are going to return in a few days time he honestly doesn’t know if he will see them again! If his owners are unwilling to offer a solution or pay you to care for him over-night then there is not much you can do there. When you go to visit him avoid interacting with him (no speaking to or eye contact) until he has completely calmed down, you can let him out of his crate first though. When you leave him avoid making a big fuss, just calmly exit and maybe even leave a radio/TV on so the house isn’t silent. If he is becoming distressed by being crated then cordoning off a smaller area of the house may be a good option but if he is a chewer then be careful doing this. Unfortunately your hands are tied to some extent and this type of reaction is the reason I advise owners against leaving their dogs alone over a few consecutive nights, even if they have someone checking on them. I hope that helps a little…best, Doggy Dan

  8. Hi I recently adopted a puppy, she is about 4 months old (almost 5 months) and she constantly barks in the morning to play or to get attention, this also happens throughout the day and when she is in her crate. I’ve tried teaching her quiet but it hasn’t really work and it may be because I’m not doing it properly but we are also trying to teach her a number of other things. I’m not sure what to do about the barking. Another thing is when we put her on a lead in the backyard she just sits there and doesn’t move and after a certain amount of time she starts to bark and I have nasty neighbors so I don’t want them getting angry , is there anything I can do?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Anabelle, barking is probably one of the more common questions I get about Puppies! I have put together a really comprehensive guide to raising happy and well behaved puppies. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will show you very clearly how to tackle all of the behaviours you mention…maybe take a quick look…it’s a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan.

  9. Hi Dan. I found your article and was hoping to find my issue. I have 5 Dalmatians. They are all crated when alone. When we get home and walk in the room they bark in a frenzied manner clawing at the crate, turning in circles and barking uncontrollably if we go to let any one of them out or walk toward the outside door. It is quite the site, deafening. I have tried being quiet, yelling and have even smacked the top of the crate nothing works. They will quiet down after a few minutes until I go to let one of them out then it starts all over again. The frenzied barking has caused a couple of them to fight. I am at my wits end. Please help.

    1. Hi Tammy! Wow…5 Dalmatians would be amazing! The good news is that you can absolutely restore calm and quiet to this situation but it will take a little patience and practice in the beginning. When you enter the room they are all crated in stand calmly, quietly, avoid eye contact and wait for them to relax….this may take a little time in the beginning but it will improve with consistency. If they are really barking then calmly leave the room, wait for quiet and then try again. When they are quiet make a move towards the first crate to open it but if they all start barking immediately step away and stand calmly again. The aim behind this approach is to teach them that barking is no longer something that gets them what they want, only silence does. They don’t have to be lying down or even sitting to begin with, just make sure they have all 4 paws on the ground and they are silent. If you set a clear and consistent routine then they will very quickly adapt their behaviour. Good luck! Doggy Dan

  10. Hi Doggy Dan, I have an 8-9 month old Rottweiler Lab Mix. He is very obedient with most things. Trains very well. However, he barks continuously. When I get up, I try to stay in bed until I hear him whining and then barking. Should I get him out before he ever barks? or let him bark it out? I just feel bad because he might be barking from hunger or needing to go to pee/poop. Also, he will be so calm on the couch and then he will turn around and look at me and then start his barking fit! I usually try to comfort him but i’m guessing that is the wrong action to take.

    Let me know what you think.

    1. Hi Gabrielle….Dogs can be very good at working out what behaviours work for them and barking fits into that category! When your dog barks and you respond by trying to console him, or you go to him, then he learns that barking gets him what he wants…in this particular case it’s attention! If your dog starts to bark at you avoid making eye contact or speaking to him and if he keeps it up then move him off your couch…or you can get up and leave the room. He want him to learn that barking at you will no longer gain your attention and if he keeps it up then he will also lose you or some privileges… like the couch! If he is barking to wake you up in the morning then ignore him until he is silent for a minute or so and when you go to him initially delay saying ‘hi’ until he is calm and has left you alone for a few minutes. You can still let him out to go to the toilet. I will point out that this type of barking is very different than a dog who is barking to alert you to a ‘danger’ and the response to that type of barking is very different. All the best…Doggy Dan

  11. Would this work with an 8 year old Norweigian Elkhound, she constantly agressively barks when outside in the garden at everyone and everything walking past to the point that people are now afraid to walk past our house, think is a mixture of being territorial and fear cause when she is outside the garden she is a completely different dog. Would love some tips on where to start training her to resolve the issues she has?

    1. Hi Laura, yes this is exactly the type of barking that my advice helps with…..even with dogs who are more mature in age. It’s a common issues for many owners and if you would like any further assistance my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to overcome this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  12. Hi Dan, we have a wonderful old girl (border collie) who is not quite the brightest dog but very loving and affectionate and still reasonably active. She gets daily walks and attention. Her hearing and sight are fairly poor now a days. She has been using her dog flap for years but just recently has been letting out a yelp to come back in (literally doing it now), several times in one minute. She will literally head out side the dog flap for something and then 30 seconds later she is standing by the dog flap and yelps to come back in. We’ve tried ignoring, sometimes she comes back in sometimes she just sits there, even if it’s cold. We are resisting coxing her in so we don’t become part of her ‘come back in’ routine and certainly don’t let her in, but feeling quite stuck for ideas. Even wondered if she has dementia but she seems to know where to come in (and does actually come in at other times) but she’s almost confused about if it’s okay to come in. She used to be afraid of the cat when he sat near the door flap but that’s not really a factor now. Appreciate your thoughts 🙂 Rob

    1. Hi Rob…as all dogs age and start to lose their senses it can lead them to ask us questions, via their behaviour, just to try and seek a little reassurance that everything is ok. If your dog has no trouble going out the dog door, and also does use it to come back inside if she wants to, I would say that she may be just be testing you to see what your response is. It’s better to ignore a behaviour like this, rather than give it too much attention as this can reinforce the behaviour. Another thing you can try, just to see if it she is having an issue with the actual dog door, is to remove the flap for a short period of time and see if that improves things. If she starts to use the doggy door again then the there may have been a different reason she for her behaviour and I would take a look at the dog door set-up itself. It may just be a phase that you can break her out of and then replace the door flap again. Best, Doggy Dan

  13. Hi Dan,

    We have two dogs a golden retriever and lab. both walked everyday and often someone home. We cannot stop them from play barking, they play all day long and bark while they play. Any tips to stop the barking, it is not very good for neighbours to hear.

    Thanks!
    Lauren

    1. Hi Lauren,
      Barking during play is actually a really normal behaviour, especially if excitement levels are high. If it’s becoming an issue then try calmly intervening to help bring your dog’s excitement levels down. You can gently take hold on their collar, maybe just focus on the one who is the most excited, and hold them still but without speaking to them or making a big fuss. When you can feel them relax a little and they are silent then you can allow them to play again….repeating the technique if they re-commence barking. If they continue to bark after you tried to calm them a couple of times then I would separate them for a few minutes, just to show them that if they don’t stat to moderate their own behaviour then the fun will stop. Initially you may be doing a lot of hands-on management but if you are consistent then they will learn that too much barking means the fun stops! Good luck, Doggy Dan

  14. Hi I have an 8 month old jug he is a proper pain for barking. He barks at any animals on TV but it’s not just a bark he goes crazy. Also he can be layed down and he just goes nuts barking at nothing at all TV not on no one out side but he will go crazy barking like crazy and I can’t stop this even if I pick him up he will just Cary on. I tried to stop him with treat when the TV is on and when he makes no noise give him one but it makes no difference what so ever. Please help

    1. Hi Aaron,
      I always like to remind dog owners that their dogs are living in a world that they largely don’t understand. Anything that’s man-made is completely alien to them and when some dogs see an animal of the TV they literally think that animal is in their home! My Blog gives you some really helpful strategies to help curb your dog’s barking but you may also like to take a look at my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com as we have an extensive section on barking but we also deal with the behaviour from the root cause …its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  15. Hi Dan,
    I have an almost 2 year old kelpie x boarder collie and he has always struggled to cope when I am not around (separation anxiety). I try and not react to him when he is barking and scratching at the door to come inside but it’s gotten to a point where he is damaging the glass and wood on my two doors. He also barks at night. Not consistently but one bark every 5 minutes or so. Any suggestions?

    1. Hi Olivia,
      Separation Anxiety is one of the more common behaviours we get asked about. If your dog is barking/scratching at the door to come inside then try waiting for 15-20 seconds of silence and then allowing him inside…and when you do delay greeting him until he has totally calmed down and isn’t pestering you for affection. We want him to learn that scratching/barking at the door doesn’t get him what he wants, but silence will. The same when he comes inside, we want him to learn that only calm behaviour will result in you giving him affection.
      If you would like some more help overcoming your dog’s Separation Anxiety then my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to do this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  16. Hi, I live with a roommate who has 2 dogs. One she adopted as a puppy. She (chihuahua) is now 9 years old. The other same age she kept when her daughter moved out and left him behind. (Pomeranian) This dog is a constant Barker. Anything and everything sets him off. We have tried everything. Nothing works. When I say STOP in a low but stern voice, he stops. But, I am not his owner. When she does it he will continue his barking. Day and night. Neighbors are complaining. It is really bad. Can you help? We have tried everything we have read about. Nothing works.

    1. Hi Yvonne,
      Even though your roommates dog is not yours you can actually help curb the barking when you are with the dog. It’s really a natural behaviour for dogs to alert their family to any potential danger…..the issue is when that dog views everything as a potential danger! It may sound odd, but when this dogs barks at something try ‘thanking’ her in a positive and calm voice. Don’t worry about encouraging her barking by doing this, you are imply showing her that whatever she is barking at is nothing for her to worry about…because you aren’t tense or angry! The problem with telling a dog to be quiet or ‘shut up’ when they bark is that the tone of our voice is often very tense/angry, and the dog hears this and thinks that we are also concerned about the ‘danger’….rather than them barking! If she continues to bark after you have thanked her then go to where she is and have a quick look around, but avoid interacting with her. This will allow her to see that you are assessing the ‘danger’ and you can then thank her again and call her to come away from that area with you…still in a positive voice. If she barks after that you may like to pop her in a room on her own for a minute or so, so that she can calm down and also so she learns that is she continues to bark then she will end up in a room on her own. Alternatively my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you (or your roommate) very clearly how to overcome this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1USD trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  17. Hi, I have a border collie that constantly barks. I believe that this is because my elderly neighbour gives him treats when he barks therefore rewarding him? I have asked her not to do this in several occasions but she still continues. Do you have any suggestions please? My dog now ignores me but obviously responds to my neighbour more than me!

    1. Hi Jo,
      Oh wow this is a bit of a tricky situation! Unfortunately your dog has learned that barking is rewarded with a treat, which gives him a really good reason to keep doing that behaviour. Apart from asking your neighbour to stop being so kind to your dog, which you have already tried, the other option is to prevent your dog from being able to access that area of the yard when you are not home to supervise his behaviour. This will mean that he is not tempted to bark and your neighbour is not able to feed him treats! When you are at home and he is barking then calmly remove him from the area so he understands that this is a behaviour you don’t want him to do. Good luck, Doggy Dan

  18. I desperate need some advice. My 6 1/2 month pup does not excessively bark normally. Except during certain play sessions at the dog park. She will play well with the other dogs, but then at a certain point she will just follow them around and bark non stop. I’ll pull her aside, make her sit and calm down and give me eye contact before she is allowed to renter the group to play. She will be quiet for a few moments before restarting the excessive barking. What can I do?

    1. Hi Helena,
      Some dogs do get really excited when they are playing with other dogs! Believe it or not you are actually on the right track with your response, however I just think a little more practice will help. Some dogs learn quite quickly whereas others need consistency and a little more patience. Any time you see your dog reaching the point at which you would like her to calm down, I would gently take hold of her collar and move her away from the other dog a little. You could also just place her back on-leash and then wait for her to clam down a bit. Once she is calm you can allow her to play again but if she gets excited then repeat the technique. We want to her to learn cause and effect…..in that as soon as she reaches a certain excitement level that play will stop and being really consistent with this will allow her to moderate her own behaviour. One last point, make sure she is genuinely calm before you allow her off-leash when you first arrive at the park/beach. This will mean her adrenaline level is lower right from the start, and you may find her play is far quieter! Best, Doggy Dan

  19. Hi Dan
    I have a 3 year old boxer and 1 year old great Dane which we are transitioning outside at night time they have a big closed in pen with a large kennel which they are happy to go in during the day… Our boxer hates it at night and barks non stop.. do you recommend ultrasonic products? Or just good old persistence?
    Thanks

    1. Hi Sam,
      This can be a bit of a tricky one to tackle! Some dogs can feel really vulnerable out in the open, especially at night when their senses aren’t as sharp and noises tend to carry a lot further than during the day. If your dogs are used to sleeping indoors then they will have been in a situation s=where they felt safe and protected from the outside world, which would have allowed them to feel relaxed enough to sleep peacefully. Now that they are outside they may be feeling like they are on look-out during the night and need to stay awake and aware of any potential dangers….as a result you can have a dog who over-reacts to just about everything they hear/smell as they feel anxious and unsettled. The easiest solution is to allow your dogs to sleep indoors in an area where they feel safe..it doesn’t have to be in your bedroom or loungeroom, a garage or laundry/bathroom may be enough. Just somewhere where they can switch off and not have to worry about the world around them or keeping their family safe from everything! You can persist and see how it all develops but if your dog is really distressed then the barking is unlikely to resolve quickly and it may cause more stress than necessary….for all involved. Best, Doggy Dan

  20. Hi there,
    I have a Cairn x Shil-Tzu, almost 3. Rescued. He can go from 1-10 in a split second with barking. Barks at all dogs that pass the house. Anyone that comes to the door and on walks any dog he comes across whether he’s on lead or off.
    I have a 2nd dog, who is 8 (also a terrier cross) who I have has since a pup. Not a barker and now is, as he joins in! What to do?!

    1. Hi Allison,
      Barking is a common issue that I get asked about a quite a lot! My Blog gave some great advice to use in the moment but there is a lot of other information you can give your dog, in other areas of their behaviour, that can have a flow-on effect to overcoming barking behaviour. Whether that barking is at home, on a walk or when guests come to visit my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to work on this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  21. Hi, our cocker spaniel is good at being left over night downstairs in her crate, and good at being left at work for a couple of hours in her crate, but often get’s very upset and barks when one of use leaves the room, but is still in the house, or sometimes when we both leave her in the room with her in her crate for dinner. Any suggestions? We can’t just give her full run of the house due to 2 cats living there, thanks

    1. Hi Claire,
      One thing that can really help with this type of behaviour is to do a little practice when you are home around the house. Focus on keeping the separations short initially and make sure that when you return to your dog that you ignore her behaviour totally. The idea behind it is to show her that her world doesn’t end if you are gone for a short period, and the more matter-of-fact you are about coming and going the better. Too much praise or verbal reassurance in response to this behaviour can actually be counterproductive and so the less fuss you make the better! Best, Doggy Dan

  22. Hi, I have a 6 month old border terrier, when we leave the house to go for a walk she barks constantly for at least 5 minutes, nothing consules her. She also does this if we go out in the car soon as we exit we get into the frenzy again. What can I do to ease what I think is over excitement. Thanks

    1. Hi Sharon,
      When dogs feel like they are out of their comfort zone then they can be hyper-sensitive to everything going on around them. Your dog knows she is safe at home, but when she is taken out into the big wide world in her mind she is surrounded by potential dangers. Before you exit your home to go on a walk or a ride in the car try and make sure she is calm and relaxed. When you are out on a walk and she starts to bark, stop walking and try holding her gently by the collar so she is still. This will allow her adrenaline/excitement level to reduce and she will be more likely to stop barking. When she is quiet and calm you can continue on your walk but repeat the technique as many times as you need to. I would actually recommend a little extra practice so you have the time to consistently work her through this behaviour. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has an extensive section on barking…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  23. I have a seven month old border collie who barks excessively at the window at other dogs and also at other dogs on the lead when walking. It is getting really bad even though we have tried numerous things, nothing seems to work.

    1. Hi Tracy,
      Barking is one of the behaviours we get a lot of questions about! It can be really easy to get frustrated with your dog when they are barking but I like to remind owners that they are just doing what comes naturally to them…alerting us to a potential danger. That’s not to say we should let them bark, but if we take the time to give them the right information when they do then they will be much quicker to calm down and be less reactive in the first place. It’s also actually a lot easier than owners think to solve this behaviour, given the right information. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  24. Hi Dan this article is really helpful. I think I have identified my dog is barking from excitement and attention. I have a 6 year old female lab and I have an 18 month old daughter. The older my daughter gets the more my dog is barking and its breaking my heart. I am doing my best to split and give them both attention. My dog is barking when I get my daughter dressed (assuming she has associated this with either going outside or us leaving) and sometimes when I am just paying attention to my daughter. Any additional tips for what seems to be jealously and excitement? I love them both dearly but its breaking my heart that she is frustrating me so

    1. Hi Lauren, if this is a case of excited barking then you need to be really mindful that your response is calm and consistent in order to help calm things down. For example, rather than get upset or tell your dog to ‘be quiet’ let your calm actions do the work for you. When your dog starts to bark try gently holding her still by the collar, without speaking to her, until she stops barking and relaxes a little. You can then let her go and return to what you were doing but if she starts to bark again then repeat the technique. If she fails to calm down and keeps barking then calmly place her in another room on her own until she is silent….this is all about showing her that if she continues to bark at you then she will end up losing you! There is a little more going on behind her behaviour and the most effective way to solve it for the long-term is to deal with this cause. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  25. “Ready to throw in the towel” I have a 4 month old puppy and it used to love his crate. Now that he turned 4 months all he does is bark. I made sure Kobbi had everything he needed and has gone out for potty but he still barks. I tried to cover his create, leave it open, different rooms, ad a toy, take out a toy, give him a chewing treat. Nothing is working. I am about to lose my mind with his barking. My puppy is a Shih Tzu and I have googled help and every website is different. This website seems to be the best website out of a 100 i have seen. I work from home and that’s the reason why I am going crazy. What am I doing wrong? Yes this is our first puppy in our family. We are such a rookie and we don’t want to give up on this puppy!!!! Help

    1. Hi Angel,
      There may be a couple of causes for Kobbi’s barking when he is in his crate. At 4 months of age he will naturally prefer to be able to roam and explore his environment and lengthy amounts of time spent in his crate may cause frustration. Also, he will naturally prefer to be wherever his family is and it will also help with his training if he is able to learn from his interactions with you. The other cause of his barking may be a little separation Anxiety, where he becomes anxious when separated from the family. Practicing very short stays in his crate, with a chew or favourite toy, and then allowing him out again will help build a more positive association with his crate again. You can gradually extend the time he spends in the crate each time you practice….leaving him in his crate for lengthy periods won’t help him overcome his behaviour or view the crate as a positive thing. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com deals with this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  26. I have a totally different issue than I’ve seen anywhere in this website. I have a three-year-old toy poodle who I’ve only had for a few months she is a great loving lapdog but when I leave her home alone she potties in the house which she doesn’t do if I’m home. Even if I only take her out twice a day she is fine as long as I’m home. Please help I don’t want my house to smell and I don’t want to have to get rid of her!

    1. Hi Angela,
      Dogs who toilet when their owners leave the house is a very common sign of a dog suffering from Separation Anxiety. The reason it happens is that the dog scent marks to try and make the house smell so obvious so that their owners know where to come home to. Stress and anxiety can also result in a dog needing the toilet more frequently than normal. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has a topic relating to Separation Anxiety and talks about how to overcome this issue…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…..all the best Doggy Dan

  27. Hi Dan,
    I have a 2 year old German Shepherd and we moved into a new place last year with a big yard, but is semi central to the city. She settled in okay, but suddenly there’s been a rise in her barking. My housemate and I sat out one night and identified the source: a few A/C units on the buildings nearby turn on and off through the night, and the clicking (and when the wind speeds up the fans) is what gets her. It’s really upset her to the point of destroying toys, and digging; I’m working with the council to try and address the issue but in the mean time I am constantly reassuring her that she is okay, no danger – she is really struggling and is super frustrated. The grass down the back where she barks is warn down to dirt from her constant running back and forth. Sometimes when it is too intense we bring her into the back laundry until she settles down and has a drink. Is there anything else I can do? I’d hate for our neighbours to make a complaint

    1. Hi Katie,
      Moving homes can be an incredibly unsettling event for dogs as everything in their environment is different and it can completely throw them out of their comfort zone. By choice a dog would never relocate territories because it puts them in potential danger. So it’s really common for a dog’s behaviour to become unsettled and anxious, in varying degrees, after a move. One of the common behaviours to appear is a bit of Separation Anxiety, because the dog literally has no concept of whether or not their owners know how to make it back safely to this new territory or if the dog will ever see them again! Have you tried leaving your dog indoors when you’re out, or at least allowing her to retreat inside if she needs to (via a dog-door). My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com will help you with some strategies to help her start to settle in to your new home…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  28. Hi Doggy Dan, My 14 year old Lhasa has developed a barking problem in her old age. She lost her sister last year and has become increasingly deaf and blind. Her sister was the Alpha dog, barked a lot and was both blind and deaf for the last year of her life. It seems like the one I have left is becoming just like the other one. Last year I could “deal with” the barking, but since then I have become “disabled” and it is hard for me to even try to do something about it this time. I have nobody who can help me with the barking here in my home; I am not willing to give her away. I just hope she goes before I do. She only barks when she she hears loud noises or thinks somebody is outside the house. By the way, I have a large backyard with lots of green grass, bushes and plants full of flowers, bird houses, feeders and lots of colorful birds; in other words, a dog’s Paradise, one would think. She refuses to be outside, and lately she won’t even go outside. Her sister went outside, and she was totally blind and deaf. Is this one afraid of something? It’s all fenced in. Thank you!

    1. Hi Inger, I’m really sorry about the passing of your dog. Just as you are feeling her loss so too will your remaining dog. The reason her behaviour has changed is because she has lost the Alpha female (her sister) and she is now forced to take on that role, in a situation where she is not physically capable of doing that role. This can lead to stress and anxiety, leading to behavioural issues appearing. The solution is for you to reassure your dog that she s not responsible for keeping everyone safe, you are! My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  29. Hello,

    I have a Yorkie as well. A beautiful 3 year old girl. We moved and during the days when i am not home she barks like crazy and the neighbors are getting fed up with the barking. I read what you said, but its difficult to discipline her when i am not there while she is barking.
    Do you have more advice?

    1. This sounds like it may be a classic case of Separation Anxiety, where your dog becomes anxious and barks whenever you leave the house. Without knowing a little more about the details around your dog’s barking it’s difficult to conclusively classify the barking but my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com covers a range of barking behaviours, but more importantly I show you how to overcome it….maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  30. WE have a 6 y/o cockerpoo who loves to bark at the patio door to be let out into the garden, she does it every 10 minutes sometimes (not just to pee, but to go and bark at W neighbour dog or a squirrel etc. BEcause we spend a lot of time near the door she just keeps barking incessantly until we open it. IF we go over and make her sit she is quiet for a few seconds but if we’re doing other things in the kitchen she keeps going longer than our sanity can bear. HElp!

    1. Barking is probably one of the behaviours I get asked about the most! In a lot of cases a barking dog is just trying to warn their family about a potential danger. Whether or not the thing they are barking at is actually a real threat to us is beside the point! If our response is to shout at the dog to ‘be quiet’ then it can be counterproductive in stopping the behaviour, in fact it can often validate it! My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve calm behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  31. I have two rescue Chuhuahuas who are wonderful happy and loving BUT they bark at the dog who shares our backyard, every time he comes out to relieve himself. This is been going on for over two years, its maddening. They bark at everything. The newer Chi is also so nervous on walks. Ive had her a year and she is terrified of the trucks and streetcars (I live in the city) and pulls on every walk even on side streets and every time anything loud passes by she goes ballistic. I dont know how to get her to feel safe. It’s not fun walking her. They listen fairly well off leash in the park but overall I have little control over keeping them calm. The newer one is fairly nervous at home as well, any loud noises send her fleeing. They are both loving and playful but so “fight or flight mode” all the time. What can I do to make both dogs more confident, less fearful and happy? Please help. Thank you, Tara

    1. Hi Tara,
      The behaviours you describe are all very commonly displayed by dogs, and believe it or not they each originate from the same cause. Strange dogs, people, cars, trucks…..pretty much anything man-made that a dog doesn’t understand…..can all be triggers for a dog to react anxiously. The best way to help your dogs relax, and effectively so for the long-term, is to help them understand that the things they are worried about are really not all that bad after all. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  32. Thank you for the great article. We have a three year old shihpoo that has started to get aggressive only when we put her in her cage. She sleeps through the night and doesn’t bark or whine at all but gets angry and snippy and Barks when we go to put her in her cage. Like I mentioned, she comes down right away and lays down on the blankets and looks very comfortable. Any thoughts?

    1. Hi,
      My advice would be to look at the way your dog is being put in the crate. Sometimes dogs can feel a bit defensive if they feel they are being made to do something they would prefer not to do. Instead of approaching your dog to then put her in her crate, try calling her to you and have a small treat ready to sweeten the deal. You can then place her in the crate and use praise, and maybe another treat, to help her understand that going into her crate s a positive thing. Hope that helps, Doggy Dan

  33. Is it possibly to train non-barking and be 100% certain that a dog will never bark again? I have a dog who lets out a single bark when she wants to greet someone. But I was told by my volunteer group that this is totally unacceptable when we are in public. They say it “frightens” other people – which I’ve never actually observed, but that’s someone’s opinion. So I was told that unless I totally eliminate any chance of her barking I would be asked to leave the group of people I’ve been hanging out with. (We volunteer to greet people at various locations). I’ve tried to ignore her barks, ie. not give her attention (which is what she wants), but my group members will tell her to “be quiet/shutup!” or others run up to her and say “Oh, you want me to pet you!” And they pet her. It’s hard to tell people, “No! You can’t pet her right now.” That would be more “frightening” I think (oh is she mean?) Or they’d think why is she here greeting people if I can’t pet her? And my group keeps yelling at her even though I’ve asked them to ignore the barks. Sigh. Any suggestions? She seldom does it at home, mostly when we are out in public, and she’s “greeting” people. She’s very sweet and she lives to be petted!

    1. Hi Lynette,
      Barking is a perfectly natural part of being a dog. They will bark as an alert to danger, when playing and also when a little excited. It’s not really fair on them to expect them never to bark, but some people do feel that this should be the case. It’s far more effective to learn to recognise why your dog is barking and to then be able to calm your dog quickly in the correct manner…..this is what we teach owners to do on my website. Incidentally, telling a dog to ‘be quiet/shut-up’ can be really counterproductive in stopping the barking, because the dog hears the tension in your voice and feels validated for barking in the first place….because you also seem upset now! Most dogs do view stranger people and dogs as a potential threat and so it may be that your dog just needs a little time to realise that the person is ok, so avoiding them approaching her to say ‘hi’ immediately would be helpful. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com deals with barking in a broad range of scenarios …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  34. We tried ignoring the “wake up family and let me inside” bark this morning and it was a very long hour with some really frayed human tempers. We are all on board but can you give us an idea of what to expect from here and how long this process might take. Thank you!

    1. We tried ignoring the “wake up family and let me inside” bark this morning and it was a very long hour with some really frayed human tempers. We are all on board but can you give us an idea of what to expect from here and how long this process might take. Thank you!

  35. Hi! This article is great! I’m SO frustrated with my pup I’ve just now been researching the best type of no bark dog collars! (Eek!)

    I have a Labernese who is really well trained (most of the time) and really easy to train (most of the time) but also has some anxiety and socialization issues from her first owner. We have a couple issues we’re working out with her still (leash reactivity being one) but the main one currently is major barking out in our fenced in yard. She simply runs around barking at EVERYTHING. Dogs, cars, people, whatever else she sees. I’ve tried pressure & release but she’s SO fast and our yard is very large so there’s no getting between her and the fence. At one point she was doing pretty good because every time she would bark at the fence I distracted her with a toy inside the fence… but now it’s winter in Vermont so….

    I’d really love some ideas!

    Thanks.

    1. Hi, One thing that can make it a little easier to manage your dog’s barking on a large property is to attach a long-line to her collar so that you are able to calmly and quickly get control if she is running around barking along the fence-line. I certainly wouldn’t recommend leaving the line on her when you are not home, but it is a tool that can be helpful in this situation. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has topics relating to barking…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  36. Hi Dan.
    Great info. I was wondering, we have a lovely 2 year old cocker. However, she’s began baking, inconsistentantly, at randoms. Mostly in the dark, when they surprise her. But it’s not consistent. We’ve tried different things and they seem to work for a couple of days. I guess that its a ‘danger’ response but struggling with the inconsistency and therefore how to deal with it. Many thanks Bea

    1. Hi Bea,
      Your last sentence is more relevant that you may realise. The best way to overcome any behavioural issue is to make sure you are consistent (and calm) in how you respond, no matter what the scenario. Your dog is alerting you to a potential danger, all stranger people and dogs are considered potentially dangerous from a dog’s perspective. Another point is to make sure that you don’t get upset or frustrated with your dog as it can actually be really counterproductive in calming the situation. TheOnlineDogTrainer.com has an extensive section on barking…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  37. We have two rescue dogs, a terrier mix, Rebel, and a shepherd mix, Axel. The main problem is Rebel, since Axel usually won’t start barking until Rebel does, but it’s also much easier for us to get him to stop and listen. Rebel barks like crazy at pretty much everything: birds and squirrels he sees through the windows, other dogs and it gets even worse when he sees, or even just hears people while they’re outside. The methods you mentioned here won’t help, since he also sprints around the yard and along the fence, especially when he sees people. We’ve tried everything short of getting a privacy fence put up or some kind of gadget or muzzle, I just don’t know what else to do…

    1. Hi Carolina,
      When dealing with two dogs who are barking generally there is an instigator (Rebel) and so it’s far more effective to focus on that dog first. If you are having trouble getting hold of Rebel then attaching a long-line to her collar, only when you are home to supervise, makes it far easier to do this. Rebel’s behaviour is motivated by her feeling she has a role to protect her family from potential dangers (stranger/dogs/cars) and the best way to stop the behaviour for the long-term is to remove that sense of responsibility from her. You can do this without the need for anti-barking devices or frustration!
      My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

    1. Now that’s a handy dog to have around Maddy! Although I’m sure your other dog doesn’t feel the same way lol!….Best, Doggy Dan

  38. I took my puppy from a dog foster home about a year ago. I love him to bits; he has a great personality, and I feel that he loves our family so much. BUT he barks and whines A LOT. . So, leaving home is always a challenge for us.
    My husband and I were thinking about taking him to ‘doggy school’, but then again, it’s extremely expensive, and the nearest ‘doggy school’ is far away from us. Maybe you have some advice? THANK YOU!!!!

    1. Hi Jeannie,
      If your dog becomes distressed when you leave him at home alone then you may have a case of Separation Anxiety on your hands. It’s actually a very common behavioural issue that we get asked about a lot. You certainly can change your dog’s behaviour but that change starts with you and your husband and so sending your dog away to ‘doggy school’ isn’t all that helpful in teaching you what to do to help your dog feel better. I only say this so you don’t waste your hard earned money, not to be disrespectful in any way!
      I have posted a link below to a previous Blog I wrote about dogs who bark when left alone, it may be informative for you. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com also shows you very clearly how to overcome this behaviour…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

      https://theonlinedogtrainer.com/barking-when-left-alone/

  39. Hi Doggy Dan… I’ve a 2yrs old male rottweiler… He is otherwise quite social and friendly with humans but it’s very aggressive to other dogs… I’m getting married in October and my fiance has a 5yrs old male lab… We’ve tried every known techniques to introduce them but they aren’t at all friendly to each other… Plz help me out…

    1. Hi,
      Merging two dogs into one family can require a little patience in some instances. The most important factor is that you take control of their introductions so as to avoid them fighting, as this interaction will stick in the back of their minds and they will be more likely to go into defense mode when they see each other. A really effective way of getting them to become more accepting of one another is to take them for a walk together. You would need to have one dog each so that you can initially give them a little space from one another. Have the dogs on the outside of your body, farthest away from each other, so that you and your partner are both in between each dog. Initially allow a few metres in between you and your partner and as you walk slowly get a little closer to each other. If your dogs are trying to cross in front of you to reach each other then guide them back to your outside again and if they are really agitated them move a little further apart and stay at that distance until they relax. This exercise gives them a chance to get used to one another without it being a direct interaction where they are face to face, which is intimidating. You may need to do a few of these exercises before you feel comfortable enough to allow them to meet at a closer range.
      If you do want to then bring them over to each others homes then always have them on-leash initially and until they are calm around each other. This gives you greater control and avoids conflict. Using things like baby-gates or barriers to create separate zones is also useful for allowing the dogs to be near one another but not be able to start to fight. It gives them time to get used to each other’s presence. I wouldn’t allow them to be free together until you feel that their behaviour is consistently calm around each other.
      My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  40. Hi Dan,

    Ive got an 11 week old cocker spaniel puppy who is just lovely but every time i leave the house he barks/whines/cries non stop until im home. I work from home so am home a lot but most days when i pick the kids up from school and then go to activities he will need to be home alone for between 1-3 hours. I know he’s still little and at this stage he’s in his crate inside but i would like to be able to leave him outside if possible (we have a fully fenced, safe backyard) eventually. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks 🙂

    1. Hi Bec. This sounds like a classic case of Separation Anxiety to me and you can absolutely address the issue but it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. One piece of advice is that when you do return home initially delay greeting your puppy until he is calm and has left you alone for a few minutes. It’s important not to speak to your puppy or make eye contact during this period and when they are calm you should call them to you to say ‘hi’ and for a pat/fuss. As I said this is a very common issue with young and mature dogs and we do cover it very comprehensively on my website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  41. Great tips for calming my dog. I always try to encourage family members and guests to stay calm even when my Snowy is jumping all around them. Shouting at him only excites him more

    1. Hi Felix,

      Yes calm really is the key here, but so is not making eye contact or speaking to the dog. If your dog learns that jumping up at guest no longer works for him, in that it doesn’t gain attention, then he will stop doing it. You can of course have him on-lead when guests arrive for better control and allow him off when he is calm. Best, Dan

  42. We have 3 dogs. When one barks, the others of course, follow his lead! I have one very quick learner, one sometimes gets it, and another – our dear Bassett Hound, who thinks she’s the queen. Separating is not easy. We have a very open floor plan. Any suggestions would be most helpful!

    1. Hi Jeni, yep its always fun when you have a handful of dogs who all behave differently! My suggestions are (very simplified version!) work on the noisiest dog first, the ring leader and the rest shall take notice of how you deal with that one. Secondly you can often set things up so you have more control over events such as using a baby gate etc or leaving a short line (if its safe to do so) on one of your dogs whilst you are watching them so they are easier to catch, and thirdly drop your own energy, avoid adding energy to the situation by shouting (I know its always easier said than done!) and lastly make sure you have a solid foundation in place (basically that the dogs know you are in charge and that they do not need to patrol and protect the property) or you may be “training” them for a long time. For a comprehensive way more detailed solution check out http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com all the best Dan 🙂

  43. Hi Dan,
    we adopted a rather wild former stray dog who arrived in our home with some really bad habits (not his fault). The past two years have been all about teaching him how we’d like him to behave. He has a bit of German shepherd and terrier in him, so is a bright and headstrong boy. Your tips on barking and how to make it stop have worked well so far. What I’d like to know is how to stop barking at night, when the dog’s senses are more alert to “danger”. Our dog sleeps in our room. Do we stick to thanking him once, checking out the danger and then isolating him if he continues to bark/growl? That makes for a very disrupted sleep but I guess consistency is the key to phasing out the bahaviour? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for sharing your expertise.

    1. Hi Frances, not sure if you have put all the foundation in place (The 5 golden rules from http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com) if not then that is the start. If you have congrats…just make sure they are tight, everyone all the time putting them in place. Once they are in place a dog will usually switch off at night and really sleep right through. If you are still struggling then what you could try is a calm freeze if he barks at night…its just a hand hold under the collar which calms them. You may try having your dog close to your bed so you can re-assure him in this very subtle and calm way. I usually find too many words just adds fuel to the fire so this approach is often my chosen solution for getting a dog to be quiet. There is an example of a calm freeze on the on this blog post https://theonlinedogtrainer.com/fireworks-and-dog-anxiety/, all the best, Dan

  44. i have tried the technique you recommend (checking, ensuring, being in charge) for dogs barking in order to protect….our 6 yr old large (100#) golden doodle barks a huge, loud, ferocious bark any time he detects the slightest sound anywhere in his surroundings (near and far) if my husband or me are present…it can be the sighting of someone he knows or the sound of a car engine from afar….he will bark and bark….if i know we are expecting a delivery, i can put him in a “down” and he will stay all-the-while desperately trying to control his need to bark by sounding a muffled bark in his effort to behave and mind his ‘down’….but i don’t often have the luxury of knowing exact delivery or visitor times….you noted that if a dog is barking to protect, the bark challenge may be difficult to overcome….it appears that we are that case….what can you recommend??? we live in the california valley but have a small weekend home in a very dog-friendly beach community…our dog’s need to protect with his loud bark is a problem….as well when we take him for walks; his constant need to watch/protect is crazy…while he has lunged toward and loudly barked at dogs walking by us, he has never, ever bitten or attacked any person or animal….you are ‘the man’ as we say in america…..please help us out with some additional training ideas….i have even considered having his voice box clipped (don’t yell at me!)…but, seriously, it is a problem…thank you, fran gunner bakersfield, california

    1. Hi Fran,
      There is a lot going on behind this behaviour and the best way to deal with it is to treat the root cause. I understand that snipping his vocal chord may seem like the solution for you but it won’t actually change his overall behaviour, he just won’t be able to bark. He will still gt overly excited at the sight of other dogs or people. I don;t always like to direct people to my membership website but in this case I think it really will help, as it will fill in a lot of the blanks for you that are required to effectively solve this behaviour. Basically it’s all about responsibility and a dog feeling that their role is to protect, to stop this behaviour your dog needs to see that this is no longer his role in your family. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  45. My 10 mth Lowchen goes berserk, screaming, pulling, when walking on lead and sees people / dogs etc. calm freeze does not work, changing direction not always possible, I’m just not winning and it’s driving me to dispare that I don’t want to walk her.

    1. Hi Irene,

      It can be a little frustrating when walking your dog is no longer enjoyable due to the issues you mention. The great news is that you can overcome these behaviours by showing your dog that he only needs to worry about following your lead and not what is going on around him. His reactions at the moment are driven from his sense of responsibility and so removing that role from him will certainly improve his behaviour on the walk. My website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com shows you very clearly how to achieve this…maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  46. Hi Doggy Dan!

    I have a 1 year old German shepherd lab mix. His barking is getting out of hand. If someone walks by the house he starts barking and then he runs around the entire house looking out all of the windows. I will try your suggest technique of speaking to him calmly. But the reason I am writing is because he also barks at people from the car. We take car rides daily. We go to the dog park, or on hikes, or walks around the park. But when he is in the car, and someone is walking or biking past. He barks like crazy. He is rather large, so it would be hard to crate him in the car. I do have him hooked to a seatbelt though. Do you have any suggestions for barking at people from the car?

    Thank you!!

    Cory

    1. Hi Cory,
      There is a lot of information I could give you here but it would mean writing a novel! So I will try and give you a couple of suggestions to help. First, avoid getting angry at him and telling him off as this will be not help him feel any safer about the ‘danger’ he sees so near you and him. A calm, positive response is always best. If he is frenzied he may not hear you though so save your breath! If you can reach over and hold him gently and still by the collar then this may help, again you don’t need to say anything or make a big fuss. When he relaxes you can let him go, we call this a Calm Freeze. Adrenaline levels are key here so if you keep yours low he will be more likely to reduce his.
      We do cover this issue, from it’s cause to it’s solution, in far more detail on my membership webiste TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  47. Hi, Dan.
    I adopted a 2 years old beagle male and most of time he’s good boy except seeing a Shiba or dogs looks like Shiba while taking a walk.
    As soon as he identify that kind of dog, he barks and barks endlessly until they’ve gone out of his site. Chasing their scent, sniffing on the ground and pulling strongly and runs to find them even they’ve gone.
    How can I stop him to bark towards to other dog like this situation?
    In the situation like this, I always pull him and run to the other side with saying “Quiet!”, but it doesn’t work at all.
    I’m not sure but it is from his experience that having bit by a dog like Shiba before?
    My mother fell down on the street and broke her leg from his behavior.
    Please give me any tips to lead him not to be like this. ~From Tokyo, JP~

    1. Hi Kelly,
      It is very likely that the reason your dog behaves this way towards Shiba-like dogs is due to his past experience with one. It sounds like it was quite a traumatic one and certainly one he would remember. The best thing you can do in the short term to help ease his mind is to move out of the way of these types of dogs when he reacts. Avoid telling him off or getting angry at him, this will not help, he needs you to be calm in this situation. We do cover the issue of dogs who are reactive towards other dogs on my membership website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com …maybe take a quick look…its a $1 trial for 3 days…all the best Doggy Dan

  48. This post blew my mind! I never thought about listening to the bark type. I rescued 2 dogs I’m trying to place then broke my ankle sky diving. Dogs went into a kennel 105 days & I almost had to surrender them. My recovery has been delayed trying to care for a hyper 50 lbs AmStaff (the barker) & a calm/quiet 60 lbs Red Nose. The barker barks when I’m working (getting my business back on track post-surgery) & I’ve almost given up a few times & just stumbled onto your post! I’m going to try your methods. I’m *very* grateful you wrote & posted this. Thank you.

    1. Hi Julie,
      glad you liked the post… I think you’ll love the website TheOnlineDogTrainer.com its my passion helping people and if you’ve enjoyed the post then the good news is that its just the beginning.
      All the best with your recovery and retraining the dogs… Best, Dan

  49. I have second rescue dog who is a 5 month old Bull Terrier/Hound mix. Our older dog is a 2 year Jack Russell/Hound mix. My problem is the puppy. He escapes out from everything (kennels, gates, etc..) and if we kennel him (even for a short time), he will poop everywhere and smear it everywhere. The kennel is NOT too large for him. He can turn around in it. He is such a strong willed pup!

    1. Hi Amanda, a lot of the time the best question you can ask yourself regarding your dogs behaviour is WHY?… The Why will sometimes help you understand the solution. So we need to figure out why your puppy is trying to escape. Here are some ideas that it may be.
      He may need to go toilet…and doesnt want to do it in the kennel?
      He wants to exercise more
      He’s bored
      He has early separation anxiety
      He is not happy and relaxed in the kennel for some other reason
      Once you work this out you can start thinking up a solution. Hope that helps – regards Dan

    2. Hi Amanda,
      sometimes its a case of working out why your dog is trying to escape first. Then you can put together a solution. So if you start with Why and work from there. It could be one of the following or something else that is making him feel the need to escape.
      – Discomfort
      – Too much energy and the need to exercise
      – Mild separation anxiety
      – Boredom
      – Needs to go toilet.
      Hope that makes sense and helps you to form a solution…best, Dan

  50. I have a 4 month old Bichon frise puppy. Can you give me any advice on how to train it to be calm when I leave the house. She will be in a play pen when left alone. Can you also tell me how I can train her to come to me when I shout for her. Thanks

    1. Hi Pauline. Yep in a nutshell the two best tips I can offer are…
      1. Leave her for very short periods and ignore her when you return.
      2. Call her only a few times and use amazing treats every time. (You can fade them out over time)
      If you want all my puppy videos then check out my website http://www.TheOnlineDogTrainer.com and you can watch the video diary of Moses – me raising my puppy from 8 weeks of age. He is 3 now and AMAZING 🙂
      Best, Dan

  51. What would you suggest when dogs bark and lunge at other dogs/people when we are driving in the car. many thanks for sharing….

    1. If your dogs are lunging and barking when in the car then they are very likely stressed and trying to protect you.
      Have you been on my website http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com I think this is where you need to start as it is what you do before you get in the car that will make all the difference. There is only so much you can do whilst driving along the road without it becoming dangerous so we need to tackle the issue at home first. Best, Dan

  52. Hi Dan! We have a small fenced in yard that our 5 month old pug/lab mix loves to run and play in, but barks incessantly when anybody walks past the property. Do we try the walking up to her calmly and saying “thank you” and walk away approach that you mentioned in your article? Instinct for us is to call for her to stop..which I’m seeing is not the right approach. We are also struggling with her understanding that she must do her pee pee outside! She will do it outside..but doesn’t understand she cannot do it in the house. Help!! We are guilty of treating her like a baby…but she is so darn cute!!
    All our best,
    Susie

    1. Hi Susie,
      two things. If you think you are treating her like a baby then I am sure you are and that really needs to stop if you want her to understand that you are in charge. You can still love her but you can’t just give her everything she wants!
      I would try putting a leash on her and walking her away from the fence for now. 5 months old is still very young so she should stop. P.S its a great time to start some serious training… http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com This will show you how to “love” her but also gain her “respect” then its so much easier to stop the barking. You can try the “Thank You’ technique however sometimes at that young age, walking her away is just as effective…Best, Dan

  53. What breed is the dog in your arms in the ‘after’ picture above. We got a dog that looks just like it and are wonderin what breed it is. We got the dog at the humane society shelter. Thanks sfor info.

    1. Hi Julie,
      in the photo that I think you are talking about with 3 dogs I am holding Moses who is my Border Collie X Huntaway X Lab mix! He is 2 years old in the photo and a tough little fella 🙂 I made a video diary of him from 8 weeks of age and put it into my site http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com
      All the best, Dan

  54. I have a 14 month old female beagle, She has a real bad problem when she can see cats when we are out for walks and if she finds the scent of one. She really squeels and barks and we have tried walking the other way,stopping her and giving her a treat but she just wont stop.It is getting embarrising as it is so loud and sounds as if she is being hurt. We just don’t know what to do.

    1. Hi Marion,
      there are lots of things you can do when you see a cat, such as walk the other way, distract her however the most important thing is that she actually looks to you for her next move. This is where things really fall down in you are not the pack leader. Dogs will simply take matters into their own hands, become stressed and try to “get the cat”. So my suggestion is become the pack leader and things will automatically start to calm down for you. Getting her walking well on the leash will help if you havent already done that. Best, Dan

  55. I recently got a rescue dog who barks when company comes over. I resorted to a crate (which I’ve never used before) where she will quiet but will bark again when she comes out if anybody is here. When you refer to “time out” what do you mean? I will view the 4 part video soon. Sure hope it works and thanks for all the tips. Im usually very good with all dogs, but this one has me stumped! Again, Thank you.

    1. Hi Sally, Timeout is a term that is used when you give the dog a place to think about their actions and calm down. It could be a bathroom, bedroom and it can be a crate. Sometimes if you use a crate and they can still see you they will keep barking. This doesnt sound like your situation which is good. You could try repeating the process a couple of times if the barking continues when you let she comes out.
      The other thing to try is attach the leash and walk her around the room for 20 seconds then sit down with her on leash and see if that works. If both approaches fail then you need to go to what I call the cause of the issue which is nearly always that the dog thinks they are in charge. So you need to understand how to become the pack leader. You can do this through my site http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com – I think you will enjoy it 🙂
      All the best, Dan

  56. Hi Dan!
    Fantastic article! I found it extremely interesting!

    I have a tiny minature yorkshire terrier (not even 2kg) and she is almost 6 months. When we go for walks she thinks she’s a lion and barks at other dogs quite frantically and pulls on the leash. (However when walking inalways make sure she never walks in front of me) When the dog come closer, she moves away and hides behind me. Whenever the appropriate occasion, i take her closer to the other dog so that they can ‘say hello’ and then she calms down. But how can I prevent this from happening in the first place because it’s not always possible to stop and take her to every dog. Living in a city, people don’t always have the time..

    Seeing as she is so small, would it be ok to pick her up and then use the calming technique that you demonstrated in the video??

    Just an added note: She also spends time with my Mum’s yorkie and they get on extremely well.

    Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks:))

    1. Hi Suzan, its usually best not to lift the dog up off the ground – however if this seems to work for now then maybe run with it…I would consider getting your puppy much more socialized, maybe consider a doggy day care with little dogs and also the dog parks…She sounds like she needs to hang out much more with other smaller dogs and make some friends and gain confidence. The other thing that will give her lots of confidence is her knowing that you are in charge. The pack leader brings stability and confidence to the rest of the pack. My second dog was a terrified little girl…knowing how to be the pack leader turned her around…now she is amazing. If you are not sure check out http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com All the best, Dan

  57. OK, here’s a new one for you. Our 22 month labradoodle barks at EVERY SINGLE commercial on TV! It does not have to have an animal in it. We have no clue why and cannot stop him! We try turning off the TV and telling him to go to his house (his crate, which is still up with the door open all the time because he likes it) and I’ve tried saying, it’s ok, calmly but nothing works. Have you ever heard of this and do you have any ideas?

    1. Hi Peri, often you have to win the dogs mind FIRST…and only then can you train the dogs body. So if you are not the decision maker in your dogs eyes then very often (especially with a confident, strong minded dog) you will run into a brick wall. So first you need to become the pack leader…then I usually put a leash on them and walk them away, once they are calmer on the leash I move them closer…constantly moving them and showing them there is nothing to worry about by ignoring the T.V. You can also make it easier to start with by turning the t.V right down, and moving your dog a long way away. There are a few other techniques I use (which I demonstrate in my membership site http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com) in fact I actually show these in use with a dog who is barking at a cat on the T.V. One of them is the calm freeze, where you simply hold the dog under the collar, with your palm turned upwards, under the dogs chin. Say nothing and remain calm. I call it the calm freeze…very powerful. Of course its always easier to get an idea of how its done by watching it on a video, all the best Dan

  58. my 5year old cocker sleeps in the kitchen and we spend most of our day here (gets a lot of sun) When some male relatives come to visit us and come straight into kitchen Corrie goes berserk crying it seems as with fear and barking Wehave to put him into his cage (in the kitchen) to try to calm him Visitors speak quietly to him but it often doesn’t make any difference Can you advise please He has been very excitable since we got him as a puppy

    1. Hi Senga, dogs need pack leaders to protect them and make decisions about who and what is dangerous…so if he thinks he is in charge and needs to make decisions he is going to struggle…(which he is) If you become the pack leader he can relax and he will automatically be calmer…
      For just $1 you can take a look inside my site where I show you the simple way to becoming the pack leader…and much more.
      It really will change your life. Take a visit now… http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com All the best, Dan

  59. My German Shepherd has taken to barking at anything on the TV that he doesn’t like. He gets very excited when there is a fight scene or a lot of movement. But the worse is if he sees an animal. He won’t shut up. A local grocery store uses a Lion in their commercials, he wants that lion, badly. I will try what you suggest above, should I try just walking to the TV and touching the screen and saying thank you?

    1. Nope…again the foundation of training (being the pack leader) is what is really needed here. Without it in place I dont think your dog will take much notice…or put another way it will be much easier if you have your dogs FULL attention…Then I would put him on a leash and move him away…move him so that he cant see the screen, maybe out of the room, say nothing and then when he has calmed return him to the room…(you can start by making it easier and turn the sound down low, then build it up) The other technique is the calm freeze, a gentle hand under the chin on his collar and turn your back on the TV…It all tells him there is no danger through your body language…If he takes no notice then I would suggest you have a leadership issue…Hope that helps…Best, Dan 🙂

  60. We have three dogs. The youngest, who just turned two, barks every morning while in their crates waiting to be fed. The other, older two are quiet, just waiting to be let out so they can have breakfast. He’s the last to be fed and he barks constantly until then. I’m not sure how to ignore him or put him in time-out in this situation.

    1. Hi Stacy, first of all I would try this…stand in front of the crate, avoid eye contact…and wait till he stops. Even if he just pauses for 5 -10 seconds, then let him out…If he does not stop then try crouching down or walking away. Eventually he should give you a break…Seize it and let him out…then each day get him to wait a little longer…Dogs are super smart and he’ll work out that its when he is quiet that he is let out.
      You can try letting the other two out and see if he gets it then…He may. When he is barking for his food, I would use timeout. Again wait till he stops before letting him out. The thing is this…there is some really basic ground work that you need to put in place before some dogs are calm enough to stop and listen and take notice of you…I have a feeling your dog is one of them. Take a look at http://www.theonlinedogtrainer.com the foundation that you need is all in there…and sometimes that is needed first before the training can begin. You need to “win the dogs mind first before you can train the body” All the best, Dan

    2. Hi there Stacey, its a common issue and an common question.
      The best solution I would try first is simple.
      Think of it like this…asking your dog to be silent for 5 minutes before you let them out is not going to happen. But if you break it down and start at 5 seconds then let them out its a good place to begin. The next time wait till you get 10 seconds then 15 then 20 and so on and so on. Before you know it they will be sitting for 30 seconds and that is all you need. Of course, eventually you can increase it more…
      Make sense? Simple 🙂 Best, Doggy Dan

  61. My dogs bark at my two older dogs every time they walk around. Why do they do this? I have nine dogs of all breeds and sizes. The largest one is the oldest and they bark all the time at him. HELP!!! Please Thanks in advance

    1. Hi Bev, my guess is that they are telling the older dogs to sit down and stop walking around. Exactly why they dont want them walking around is anyones guess however here’s the thing to focus on. You make the rules. Not your dogs. If your dogs are barking at the older ones I would pop them calmly into timeout. And if after a few attempts at that then I would suggest that you are not the pack leader. Your dog will know why they are being put in timeout, (for barking) however if they don’t respect you then they’ll just keep doing it. Hope that makes sense… Dan

  62. Did everything wrong with first dog. Left food out 24/7. Let her in and out first. Let her sleep on the bed.
    She didn’t obey me worth a darn in the early years. I treated her like a baby. Years later, I took over the role of alpha.

    Now, attempting the whole puppy thing again. Not sure I’m up for it. Finally, got used to my older, settled, trained dogs. Trying to get it right from the start.

    1. Hi Joanna,
      Yep its easy to make mistakes when you are new to the game because what puppies and dogs really need doesnt come naturally to most of us! The great news though, is that when you’re shown what to do its also pretty easy. Well done for deciding to get it right first time! All the best, Dan

  63. Thanks for this informative article Doggy Dan. My dog always barks when he hears/sees a motorbike, presumably because he thinks there is danger. I’ll give your tips a go!

    1. Hi Geraldine, yep give it a go for sure…you could be pleasantly surprised. The other trick to try is to simply slip a leash on and walk your dog around calmly, without saying a word when there is a bit of traffic…By being calm and making nothing of the noise, your actions communicate what you want. Nothing! All the best, Doggy Dan 🙂

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