Stop a Puppy from Barking – How to Prevent Unnecessary Behavior

Barking is a natural behavior for dogs. They bark for various reasons. They can bark to alert you that a stranger is in the house or near your property. Or they bark when they’re annoyed, stressed or scared. They also bark when they’re bored.

Some techniques to Stop Your Puppy From Digging.

A lot of dogs will start barking to occupy themselves, like digging holes in the yard, and keep barking because it’s something to do.

Puppies bark for these same reasons, and perhaps a couple of others. They’re young, and so they’re still adjusting to being away from their family for so long. Therefore, they bark to either see if their littermates or mother is around, or to get you your attention. It can be difficult to stop a puppy from barking, but it’s not impossible.

You should check your own behavior before attempting to stop your puppy barking. Perhaps your behavior is inconsistent, which causes confusion for the puppy. For example, your puppy may bark when you leave him alone even if it’s for a few short minutes.

Your first instinct is to run to the dog and try to soothe him with petting and soft words. However, you’re actually only encouraging the behavior. Thus, your first step is to try to ignore your puppy when he starts barking uncontrollably.

If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to be a little tougher. Loud noises will stop puppy barking, because it will startle them into silence. Try taking a small can and putting a few coins inside. When the puppy starts barking, throw the can against the wall.

Don’t throw it at the puppy. He’ll get scared and think that he shouldn’t bark at all. Instead, you want to shock the puppy into silence. Be consistent. Let the puppy bark two or three times, then throw the can. Then wait. If he starts barking again, throw it again. Eventually he’ll get the point.

Water is also an effective way to stop barking. Use a spray bottle or a sports bottle filled with water. When your dog starts to bark more than the allotted amount of times then you can simply spray them with the water bottle. This is another harmless form of discipline.

Follow either of the previous methods with the words “Stop barking.” He’ll start to see this as a command. Eventually he’ll be able to do it without being disciplined. Once your puppy learns to stop barking on command, reward them with treats and attention.