Although dogs are inarguably the cutest animals on earth, there is one major thing they do that can make even the most peaceful person angry: barking. Regardless of how great your furry friend is, if they have a bark that is piercing or frequent, it can really make you frustrated. Here are four ways to get your dog to kick the habit, according to Caesar's Way.
4. Crate Training
One way to get your dog to stop barking is to train them to be quiet when in a crate. Probably the easiest way to go about this is to make the crate as warm and welcoming as possible, so they feel comfortable in there. If your dog is scared or threatened by the crate, they're more likely to bark.
Easy ways to make a crate comfortable is to have soft blankets in there, maybe an old t-shirt or piece of clothing that smells like you, and to make sure the room the crate is in isn't too hot or too cold. You can also try to cover the crate with a sheet while they're in it, to keep them from possible distractions in the room.
3. Teach to Bark on Command
If you ever wanted to teach your dog some tricks, this one might actually get them to stop barking. Teaching your pup to bark on demand, using the word "speak" for example, will tell them the appropriate times to make noise and the times to simply be quiet.
2. Teach New Greeting for Guests
Another trick you could teach your dog is to bring your guests a "gift," as a form of a greeting to someone new. Normally, our furry friends bark the most when someone they don't recognize enters their space. If you teach your dog to pick up a toy and bring it to the newcomer, they will not feel the need to bark.
1. Create Distractions
Probably the most effective method to get your dog to stop barking is to create distractions around them to make something else more interesting than what they're focused on. One of the simplest distractions is to make a loud noise for them to be alarmed by. We recommend a jar with coins in it that you can shake and in turn disrupt their plan to continue to bark.
