A playful bark
Barking is a natural form of communication for dogs. They can bark in different ways to express themselves when they are happy, excited, upset, or are warning of potential danger. Barking usually isn't a problem, except when a dog does it for hours at a time while their owners are gone. A barking dog can turn into a major nuisance for the neighborhood, and can sometimes cost the owners fines and headaches.
Why Dogs Bark
A dog can bark for any number of reasons, but nuisance barking is most often a way to get attention. When left alone, a dog can get bored or lonely. They express their fear or dislike of being alone by barking.
Over time, most dogs learn that barking can make their owners react. If he barks when he has to go out or wants to play, you probably take him out or play with him. If he barks and you yell at him to stop, he still sees this as attention. Some dogs who are used to constant attention can become very anxious when they are left alone, and bark to try to get your recognition.
Avoidance
Since dogs most often bark out of boredom or loneliness, the key to breaking the habit could be to keep his mind occupied on other things. Sometimes this is as simple as taking him for a run before leaving. If he gets lots of exercise and socialization right before you leave, he is more likely to relax and take a nap while you are gone. Give him toys or bones when you leave. Many people use bully sticks or marrow-filled bones to keep their dogs busy while they are gone, while others prefer Kong type toys.
Training
Basic training is essential to having a well-behaved dog in general. Commands like "sit," and "stay," and learning walk correctly are all part of teaching a dog to be a good family member. They can seem totally unrelated to nuisance barking, but the better your dog understands his place in the family, the more he will trust you and be better mentally equipped to handle being alone. The routine when leaving or coming home is also very important. Whether you are leaving or coming home, don't make a big deal about it. Don't kiss him goodbye or let him get excited and jump around when you come home. In fact, don't give him any attention unless he is sitting nicely. A dog learns to be anxious and upset when you leave by learning that being with you is the most important part of the day.
Some trainers believe in negative reinforcement. When your dog starts barking, they advise you to splash or spray a small amount of water in their face to startle them into listening, and then command, "No Barking" or "No Bark." Give them a small treat when the stop. The theory is that over time the dog will learn the proper behavior in this manner and the water and treats will eventually become unnecessary.
Tags: being alone, coming home, leaving coming, leaving coming home, left alone, most often