Barking is a normal method of dog communication and if your dog is barking at you, your pet is trying to alert you to something that has caught their attention. However, excessive barking can become a source of irritation to both you and your neighbours. If your dog is barking for long periods of time, it’s important to get to the root of the problem and find out what is triggering it. In this guide, we give you tips on understanding why your dog is barking excessively and how to prevent it.

How do you stop nuisance barking?

Is your dog barking at night? The first step to reducing excessive barking or stopping it all together is to understand why your dog is barking in the first place. Perhaps your dog is worried about a potential threat or it could be that this is how your dog lets you know he is hungry and wants to be fed. Once you know what your dog wants, you can start to train your dog to communicate in a calmer way. While it is tempting to reprimand your dog for barking excessively, it is important to stay calm. Shouting at your dog may result in your dog feeling anxious or stressed and this will make it harder to achieve your goal.

How do I stop my dog or puppy from excessive barking?

Again, in order to stop excessive barking, you must first understand what your dog is barking for. If your dog barks when he is left alone, they could be experiencing separation anxiety. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to rectify this and soothe your dog while you are not at home. Often making sure your dog is mentally stimulated can help. You can leave tasty treats in a Kong or leave a toy or a bone to distract and entertain them during solitary periods. Increasing your dog’s exercise throughout the day will also help your pet to sleep more when you are not there.

Why does my dog bark so much for no reason?

If you are wondering how to stop dogs barking but you can’t see an obvious reason for it, it could possibly be that your pet is doing it for attention seeking reasons. A simple solution to this is to give no reaction to your dog when they bark. Your pet will soon realise this is not the way to get your attention. Plenty of treats and rewards and only acknowledging your pet when they are being quiet will also reinforce that good things happen when they aren’t barking.

It is important to note that some dog breeds are simply more vocal than others but if you are concerned that your dog’s barking is connected to illness or anxiety, you will want to get a second opinion and rule out any injury with a vet. Here at Asda Money, we are dedicated to helping you find the right level of cover for you and your pet. You can find out more information about our pet insurance here.