How Do I Stop my Dog from Barking?
Kirsty Everard • 15 January 2025
A Guide to Help with Alert/ Alarm Barking in the Home
If you have a Dog who barks at people, joggers, cyclists, or vehicles that pass by your house, or who barks in the garden in response to other Dogs in your neighbourhood then this technique will work for you! You can also do this if they bark at the doorbell, or a knock at the door.
Many of our Dogs were bred to be watch Dogs. Today it is hard for our Dogs to tell the difference between a potential intruder and someone just passing by. They also don’t realise that it’s not their barking that has made the passer-by outside leave but that they were going to go anyway!
This simple technique will help to reduce the number of times that your Dog barks, how much they bark and in time will work to put their silence on cue!
Please note that this technique is not suitable for Dogs when they are barking at you to get your attention!
When practicing this exercise there’s no need to worry that your Dog will start barking to get treats because they are only barking when there is something to bark at, and you can also do this activity if you suspect that they’ve heard something that you haven’t!
I have broken down the steps in detail for you but to summarise we will be following these simple steps:
- Thanking your Dog when they react to something outside
- Giving your Dog a high value treat away from the window, door, gate, or fence
- Feeding your Dog treats until the offensive thing goes away
- Repeating this until it is a well established habit
How to Stop Alert Barking
Step 1 – Identify Triggers
- Make a list of all the things that make your Dog bark (do this over a couple of days)
- Note how long your Dog barks for and what they’re barking at (even if you don’t know precisely what, because you can’t hear it)
- Make sure that your Dog is reacting to things outside the property, not inside
- Recognise patterns and the most challenging parts of your Dog’s day e.g. the morning and afternoon school run, postman etc.
- Note whether the triggers are visual or auditory
Step 2 – Remove Vantage Points
- Temporarily block access points to the windows, move the sofa if your Dog uses the back of that to see out, use screens, or stick on filters, if necessary block off access to the room, if possible
- If your Dog is sensitive to external noises then provide them with a quiet place, or some music at a low volume, just be careful to ensure that they are able to rest
- Block off viewpoints outside too if your Dog barks at things going past when they are in the garden (bamboo panels can be a good option, or you may want to put solid panels on gates)
- You will only need to do this for a few weeks so please don’t worry!
Step 3 – Give Your Dog Something to Do at Critical Times
- When you recognise patterns in your Dog’s barking it’s important to give them something appropriate to do at those times such as a Kong, LickiMat, or Snufflemat, you could also put on some classical music, or soft rock and reggae have also been shown to have calming effects!
Step 4 – Get Prepared to Teach Your Dog an “Off-Switch”
- You will need some high value treats, ensure your Dog absolutely loves them, because they will stop barking much more quickly! Dry treats are probably a better option because you will need to keep them somewhere handy
- Find a suitable place to stash these high value treats, for example, if your Dog barks at the window then do you have a table or mantlepiece the far side of the room? If they bark in the garden then perhaps somewhere by the back door
- The aim here is to stash the treats at the furthest point from where your Dog is barking so that we can create a new pattern of behaviour and move them away from where they are barking at the same time
Step 5 – Thank your Dog – and Mean It!
- The next time your Dog barks because something is happening outside, give them a really heartfelt “thank you”, pick a phrase that you can use every single time, but that you don’t use frequently at other times, this phrase will become your “off-switch”
- Thank your Dog and move to your treat stash, give them a treat, at a distance away from where they were barking
- Don’t worry if your Dog doesn’t stop barking instantly, or goes back for a final bark, this may happen the first 10 or so times, it’s all part of the process!
- Feed your Dog treats for the entire time that the offending thing is outside the house or garden
- With repetition your chosen phrase will come to mean that your Dog doesn’t need to bark anymore
- Continue to practice and always treat your Dog if there is something going by, or a scary noise to get 100% reliability, keep this up until your Dog comes running to their treat spot when you say your phrase
Step 6 – Stretch Out Those Treats!
- You could try asking your Dog to ‘get it’ and throw a treat for them to find to take a little more time, keeping them moving and busy rather than asking them to sit will be much easier for them and will help to keep them occupied until the passing thing has gone
Step 7 – Practice, Practice, Practice!
- Continue to practice until your Dog is 100% reliable – when you say your phrase they instantly stop barking
- At this stage your Dog will also be less sensitive to noise because through our practices they have been getting used to them, and they have been paired with extra tasty treats!
Step 8 – Reducing the Treats
- When your Dog’s response is 100% reliable you can say your phrase and swap the treats for some verbal praise, petting, or even a fun game!
- Start varying your rewards for the times when your Dog looks towards the window, fence, or does a little growl at something outside
- Remember to occasionally still use food treats so that their barking doesn’t return!
- You will find their barking greatly reduces so you may only need a couple of treats a week anyway!
Step 9 – Reward the Little Things!
- At this stage we can begin to thank the smaller behaviours so that your Dog will no longer need to bark!
- If you see your Dog look, but they don’t bark, thank them with your phrase and give them a treat
- If your Dog growls at something outside, thank them and give them a treat
- If your Dog was resting and something causes them to open their eyes, thank them and give them a treat
Please remember that although this guide should help you, it is really important to seek advice from a qualified trainer if you are having any difficulties.
Ensure you find a qualified professional who only uses reward based and force free training to set you and your Dog up for success.
I offer training and behaviour consultations across Dorset and am always very happy to help, please get in contact today if you need any additional support.
Christmas is a time to sit back, relax and enjoy some home comforts, the last thing you need is to have to worry about your Dog so here are some helpful tips for you. Creating a place where your Dog can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe haven where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe haven you will increase their confidence in dealing with uncertain or stressful situations. It's important your Dog views their safe space as the place ever! How to set up your Dog's safe space: ✅ Look at where your Dog naturally likes to go, could you set something up there for them? You could even set up more than one place if you'd like one where you spend the most time and a second in a really quiet spot! ✅ Make sure it's nice and cosy with enough space for your Dog to stretch out, and some comfortable bedding ✅ Try to pick a spot that won't be too hot, or too cold ✅ Make sure their safe space is easily accessible, and that they are never shut in there, it's important your Dog knows that they can come and go as they please from their safe space ✅ Make sure there's a water bowl near your Dog's safe space ✅ Over the next few days set up a safe space for your Dog, in preparation for all the festivities ✅ You could start feeding your Dog's meals in their safe space, and be sure to give them lots of tasty treats there so they start to build up some really great associations!
There are so many different toys out there for our Dogs, here is a little selection that hopefully will help to give you some ideas of ways to keep them relaxed, entertained and enriched both physically and mentally!
Christmas is a time to sit back, relax and enjoy some home comforts, the last thing you need is to have to worry about your Dog's safety so here are some helpful tips for you.
1. Make sure your Dog is comfortable Try to take your Dog out before it gets dark if they are likely to be spooked by people in costumes, you may want to feed them slightly earlier and then take them out for their last wee later when it's a bit quieter. Keep your Dog on their lead and make sure that ID tag and microchip is up to date just incase something scares them and they bolt, make sure that your garden is safe and escape proof too. 2. Create a safe ‘Doggy den’ Provide your Dog with plenty of places to hide if they choose to, if your Dog has a crate you could cover it with blankets, or you could use chairs and blankets to create a new safe space for them, perhaps you have noticed your Dog has found their own safe space that they like to go to? Try not to choose somewhere by a window though so that they're away from any outside noise. Make sure your Dog can come and go from their den as they please. Fill your Doggy dens with plenty of blankets, chew toys and ensure there is a water bowl nearby. Your Dog may be most comfortable with you, or in their usual bed so make sure they have options and avoid confining them to one place. If your Dog prefers to hide away do let them. By giving your Dog a safe space we can help to reduce stress and improve their confidence. Creating a place where they can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe space where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe space you will increase their confidence in dealing with strange situations. It's important your Dog views their safe space as positively and sees it as the place ever! 3. Make sure your Dog is secure If you are likely to be having visitors ensure that your Dog is somewhere secure when you open the door, it may be worth leaving their collar and ID tag on just incase they accidentally escape 4. Turn on the TV or radio The sound from the TV or radio can help to mask outdoor noises, avoid turning the volume up too loudly though. 5. Be available to reassure your Dog Reassure your Dog if they are nervous, but do try to stay calm and act normally, gently stroke them if they are comfortable with that, or you could try playing a game with their favourite toy if they want to. 6. Provide your Dog with a stuffed Kong, or long-lasting chew Giving your Dog something to chew on will have a calming effect and help to keep them occupied; you could also try puzzle toys, or a snuffle matt to keep them busy! 7. Keep Human treats out of your Dog's reach Chocolate is harmful for Dogs, and sweeties are very high in sugar, some may contain xylitol which can be fatal so be sure to keep them away from your Dog. 8. Fill your Dog’s water bowls Make sure that your Dog has access to plenty of water because anxious Dogs pant more and chews may make them more thirsty too. 9. Dressing up If you are going to be dressing up then you may want to introduce your Dog to your outfit beforehand so that they aren't surprised by your sudden change of appearance! If you are thinking about dressing your Dog up then please ensure that they are completely comfortable with the whole process from having the item put on them to wearing it.
Stop! Before you next empty your recycle bin let us take a look at some home-made enrichment toys we can create for our Dogs, for free! Always be sure to supervise your Dog with these and if they like to eat any of the materials listed then please avoid using them to be sure to keep them safe. Cardboard boxes: you can use these to pop some of your Dog's food or treats in, for beginners keep the box open but then you can start to pop little holes in, or seal them up for your Dog to get the food out, if your Dog is highly toy motivated then you could also hide a toy for them to find and then have a good play together! Toilet roll inner tubes: start saving those tubes because there are so many things that we can do with them to help provide some mental stimulation for our Dogs; for beginners we can cut those tubes into different sizes, put them in a box and scatter some treats in there for our Dogs to get out, then once your Dog has learned the game you could even fold over the ends of the tubes to turn them into little parcels to make the game more difficult! Plastic Bottles: we can start by making this really easy for our Dogs, grab a plastic bottle, throw away the lid and make a few holes in it, next pop some treats in and let your Dog work out how to get them out; once your Dog is used to this game you can make less holes, or just take the lid off, if your Dog gets really smart you could always leave the lid on but just be careful to make sure your Dog doesn't swallow it Sustainable cardboard packaging: this is great for popping in a box with some of your Dogs food or treats, to start with you can put their biscuits in the box and then pop the packaging on top, but once they are used to the game you could even wrap their food up in the packaging before popping it in a box for them so they have to rustle around to find the food! Paper plates: you can use paper plates to make little parcels for your Dog by folding the plate in half, placing some food in the middle and then folding over the edges! Muffin tins: if you have an old muffin tin these are great! You can begin by just putting food in the trays but then you can start to cover the tops with tennis balls, your Dog will have to use their nose or paw to get to the food! (If you don't have an old muffin tin you can also use the plastic trays that come in multi-packs of biscuits - it's a great excuse to treat yourself!) Pillow cases: if you have an old pillow case you can crinkle it up a little and pop treats in the gaps, much like how a snuffle mat works, or if you have a Dog who is a little more inquisitive and want to up the activity level you could always place their treats, or favourite toy inside the pillowcase and let them work out how to get it out! Blankets: you can start this off quite easily by popping some treats on a blanket and then progress to rolling the blanket so that your Dog has to unravel it with their nose to get the food Plastic cups: you can use these to hide treats under, when your Dog is first starting you can lift them to show your Dog the food underneath and keep them interested, but after a while you'll be able to let your Dog work this one out on their own, over time you will be able to just put food under some of the cups so your Dog has to sniff out the correct ones! Ice cube trays: ice cube trays are fantastic for teething Puppies and are great in the summer months for Dogs of any age to help keep cool, pop some of their treats in the tray with a little water and leave to freeze, you have the option of taking out the individual ice cubes, or allowing your Dog to lick the whole tray to get to their treats! These are all great ideas for you and your Dog but if you would like to look at some of the interactive toys that are available at the moment please do check out my previous blog with some ideas for interactive toys for your Dog that you can buy.
Many Dogs are scared of fireworks, throughout the year we can work to desensitise them to the sounds of those loud bangs, but here are some ways to help keep them comfortable during fireworks season. Where possible try to implement any changes gradually, over a few days, so that your Dog’s routine isn’t suddenly changed. 1. Take your Dog for their walk before it gets dark Try to make sure you take your Dog out before fireworks are likely to start going off, you may want to feed them slightly earlier too and then take them out for their last wee when the fireworks have finished. Keep your Dog on their lead and make sure that ID tag and microchip is up to date just incase something scares them and they bolt, make sure that your garden is safe and escape proof too. 2. Create a safe ‘Doggy den’ Provide your Dog with plenty of places to hide if they choose to, if your Dog has a crate you could cover it with blankets, or you could use chairs and blankets to create a new safe space for them, perhaps you have noticed your Dog has found their own safe space that they like to go to? Try not to choose somewhere by a window though so that they're away from any outside noise. Make sure your Dog can come and go from their den as they please. Fill your Doggy dens with plenty of blankets, chew toys and ensure there is a water bowl nearby. Your Dog may be most comfortable with you, or in their usual bed so make sure they have options and avoid confining them to one place. If your Dog prefers to hide away do let them. By giving your Dog a safe space we can help to reduce stress and improve their confidence. Creating a place where they can relax and settle down quietly will help to reduce anxiety and help your Dog to cope with stressful situations, including fireworks. Even if your Dog doesn’t suffer from fear or anxiety, it’s great to have their own safe space where they can go when they just want to relax for a bit. By giving your Dog the choice to go to their safe space you will increase their confidence in dealing with uncertain or stressful situations, like fireworks. It's important your Dog views their safe space as positively and sees it as the place ever! 3. Shut the windows, close the curtains and leave the lights on Making sure the windows are closed will help quieten the sound of the fireworks. Closing the curtains and keeping the room lit will help to keep your Dog cosy and hide any flashes of light from the fireworks. 4. Turn on the TV, radio or play some music The sound from the TV or radio can help to mask the sound of the fireworks, avoid turning the volume up too loudly though. Classical music has been shown to have calming effects - in one study Dogs who were played classical music were found to rest more, spent more of their time being quiet, and less time standing than when exposed to heavy metal, pop and conversation. Classical music with a single instrument at a slower tempo has been especially shown to produced relaxed behaviors in Dogs. Dogs seem to relax when exposed to music with a tempo of 50-60 beats per minute, interestingly this doesn't just include classical music, but reggae and some types of soft rock have been shown to reduce heart rate and lower stress too! Why not play a selection of calming music and see which encourages your Dog to relax most! 5. Be available to reassure your Dog Reassure your Dog if they are nervous, but do try to stay calm and act normally, gently stroke them if they are comfortable with that, or you could try playing a game with their favourite toy if they want to. 6. Provide your Dog with a stuffed Kong, or long-lasting chew Giving your Dog something to chew on will have a calming effect and help to keep them occupied; you could also try puzzle toys, a snuffle matt, or a lickimat. If your Dog is really anxious be mindful that they may not want to eat but it’s certainly worth a try! 7. Fill your Dog’s water bowls Make sure that your Dog has access to plenty of water because anxious Dogs pant more and chews may make them more thirsty too. 8. Try some calming remedies - Adaptil is a synthetic pheromone which can help to promote calmness and reduce anxiety by sending 'comforting messages' to your Dog, you can buy plug in diffusers for your home, or it is available as a spray - Scullcap and Valerian Tablets are a natural way to help promote relaxation and reduce anxiety 9. Extra inspiration If you would like some ideas for free home made interactive toys to help keep your Dog occupied, or ideas to put on a LickiMat please check out my other blogs too! 10. Start preparing for next year If your Dog is anxious of fireworks please do get in contact with me so that we can arrange an appointment to help them in preparation for next year.
Great and simple ideas to help make your Dog's meals more interesting