Have you ever wondered why your dog won’t stop barking? Barking is your dog’s way of communication; however, it’s often perceived as a problem by many dog owners. This is because some dogs will bark continuously, which not only affects owners but also surrounding neighbors. Before you start treating your dog’s barking problem, it’s important to understand why your dog is barking in the first place. Here are some reasons why your dog may be barking: 

• Breed and genetics 
• Boredom 
• Communication 
• Territorial 
• Fear and anxiety 

Related Post: Why Won't My Dog Stop Barking?  

How DO I train my dog to stop barking? 

Once you know how often your dog barks and what he or she seems to be barking at, there are several solutions you can take to get your furbaby to stop barking. Here are 10 action you should do if your dog won’t stop barking: 

1. Give Your Dog an Activity

One of the main reasons why your dog may be barking is because they’re bored. Imagine staying at home alone for hours and hours without any form of entertainment. Not so fun right? One of the solutions that may stop your dog from barking is to leave puzzles and toys out when you’re preoccupied or need to leave the house. Treats such as sniff mats and kong toys are great because they require your dog to slowly lick or sniff out the treat. The activity will keep your furbaby busy for hours, which means no barking! Once they’re done, your dog may be so tuckered out they’ll need a nap!

2. Give Your Fur Baby Lots of Attention and Exercise When You're Home

Dogs have lots of energy and naturally require lots of exercise. While the playtime and exercise time may vary across breeds, you should give your pup lots of attention when you’re home. Tire him or her out with lots of playtime, exercise, running and jumping. Not only is exercise great for your dog’s health, it can really burn off excess energy. Try to exercise with your dog early in the morning and then give your furry friend some attention. By the time you have to leave for work, your furbaby will be about ready for a nap, and your leaving will be a little less upsetting. 

3. Use A Dog Monitor to Track and Address Barking

One crucial step in training your dog to stop barking is to understand why they’re barking and how much of a problem it is. You can track your dog’s barking with a dog monitor that will show your dog’s activity at home. Furbo Dog Camera sends you alerts when your dog barks, so you can see exactly how much of a problem it is. Since there’s a camera, you can immediately tune in to see exactly what’s going on. What is your furry friend trying to tell you? Furbo has a two-way communication system, so you can use your voice to soothe away anxiety and talk to your dog, which immediately cuts off the barking. Since Furbo can let you dispense treats when you’re not there and makes a clicking sound before dispensing treats, you can use the treat system as part of clicker training and training methods you’re using to put a stop to barking.

4. Give Your Dog Some Sounds to Make the House Less Lonely

Have you ever noticed how loud the silence is when you’re somewhere all alone without your furbaby? Well, that’s how your dog feels when you’re gone. Leaving the TV or radio on approximates the sounds when you’re home, like the sound of human voices. Just remember, this technique works best on dogs with separation anxiety. This can work with puppies, for example, but might not work so well with dogs who bark due to stimulation and territorial feelings. In those cases, any noise can be a reason to bark!

5. Check In With The Vet

If your dog is barking a lot, get your furry family member checked out to make sure there isn’t anything medically wrong. This is especially the case if your dog has always been quiet and suddenly starts to bark a lot. If your dog has any pain or discomfort, they may not have any other way to communicate that with you, so treat any new behaviors seriously. 

6. Get The Pros Involved 

Sometimes, you just need to bring in the experts. When barking is a problem because of genetics or other issues you just can’t control, work with a trainer who can help with these sorts of issues. You can use Furbo to reinforce your training together. Training can not only help your fur baby be the good dog you know they are, but working together can also be a good bonding experience for you and your dog. 

7. Get Rid of The ‘Stimuli’ 

If your dog is barking because of stimuli or because they get a little grumpy that someone might be trying to get on “their” territory, create a quieter environment for your furry buddy. Put them in a quiet part of the house, turn off the lights and close the curtains to muffle outdoor sounds. Consider investing in thicker shades or curtains to block out more noise from the street.

8. Bring in a Special Treat 

Instead of just giving your furry family member a puzzle or treat, try giving them the ultimate treat. Give him or her some toy or item they love and can only get when you’re not around. This can help your furry family member see being left alone is not all that bad and create a positive association with “me” dog time. Giving your dog this special treat can also be distracting, so you leaving hurts a little less!

9. Save the Dramatic Exit for Another Day 

Of course, you want to shower your furbaby with kisses and love before you leave. After all, it can be hard for you to leave, too. Creating a more emotional scene, however, can drag out your leaving and can get your dog worked up. Get out the door quietly, and you are less likely to set your fur baby off.

10. Take care of your own feelings 

You may not want to leave your furry family member, but if you feel anxiety, worry and other strong emotions, your fur baby may pick up on it. Dogs are extremely perceptive and are especially attuned to the emotions of their human parents. When you’re on edge, it can make your dog more anxious, which can start up the barking. It can be hard to rein in your emotions, but try. Remind yourself you’ll be back and use Furbo to stay in touch throughout the day and to bring you peace of mind, so you can slip out quietly

What NOT to DO

While there are lots of things you can do to keep your fur baby from barking, there are also things you don’t want to do. Avoid shouting back when your dog barks. This makes your fur baby think you’re talking right back and joining in the fun, which just makes the barking more attractive! By the same token, avoid lavishing your dog with attention or treats when he or she barks. This can inadvertently encourage the very behavior you’re trying to halt!

Keep your voice calm and firm and use the same “Quiet!” command each time to stop barking.

Another thing you don’t want to do is to let your dog keep barking. Your fur baby may get a kick out of barking, so it’s just not a problem likely to resolve itself. In fact, if you keep ignoring your friend, he or she may decide barking’s not getting the job done and may move on to other aggressive behaviors. In addition, the more ingrained the barking behaviors get, the more work you may have on your hands to undo the habit. Furbo lets you spot any barking behaviors at once so you can address them immediately.

The main message to remember is to determine the source of the problem as much as you are able and to try to stay consistent and persistent when solving the problem. 

Your furbaby wants to make you proud, and if you’re willing to put in the effort, you can help address barking so your home is quiet when you’re away! 

Buy a Furbo today to get notifications when your dog is barking and to be able to check in on your furry friend when you leave. Furbo is a unique two-way communication system for your dog, allowing you to peek in at home, be alerted to barking and communicate with your furry buddy via treats and your voice. It’s the closest thing to actually being at home with your fur baby! You may not be able to be there every second of the day, but you can ensure your fur baby is safe and cared for!