How to train a dog that always barks with expert advice

Do you have a dog that barks, or rather, do you have a dog that barks too much or too often? It's a rather serious problem because barking is in the nature of a dog and is nothing more than a means of communication, but the disturbance it causes to you and the people around you is irreconcilable with everyday life.

Unfortunately, it is a common inconvenience to many owners, and it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that the dog is not too much of a nuisance to neighbors, who could make a complaint about public disturbance.

Is it possible to train a dog that always barks, or at least limit the problem? Of course, it is! Continue reading to discover remedies and anti-barking products for a stress-free dog!

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Why do dogs bark?

Dogs tend to bark and emit whines and loud barks when left alone and to bark loudly when they feel threatened.

Or they bark for joy when the family comes home.

It's absolutely normal behavior and in most cases, dogs don't bark too long.

However, there are breeds predisposed to continuous barking and types of dogs that have been genetically selected to be good guardians, and barking is just their way of doing their job.

Understanding the dog's emotional state and the reason for the barking is important to intervene in the right way. The main reasons why a dog barks are as follows:

Fear
Perception of danger
Alarm
Loneliness
Pain
Frustration
Boredom
Anxiety/separation
Request for attention
Greeting/joy
Communication exchange with other dogs

How to prevent your dog from barking?

To avoid persistent barking in dogs, first of all, be patient and avoid scolding or being too aggressive, as this could have the opposite effect or traumatize the poor animal.

There are several systems that can be used to limit the noise, or to bring it to a tolerable level that allows us to avoid too many complaints (or even a hefty fine):

1) Use optical barriers: Blocking the dog's line of sight will provide fewer distractions and make it less talkative. It's better to close the bars of gates or fences with a cover, or close windows and French doors with curtains or opaque screens.

2) Create a quiet area: Allocating a part of the house (e.g., the bedroom, bathroom, or carrier) for peaceful moments will make the dog understand that this is a safe place where it is always protected and where guard dog services are not required. Isolating it for a while from noises will help calm your animal.

3) Create a sound diversion: It doesn't work with all dogs, but leaving the television on a channel that broadcasts animal videos might distract the dog while alone. There are also music videos for dogs to limit barking, which in many cases have given excellent results.

4) Distractions and toys: Offering your dog a tasty chew toy or a bone to chew (like a long-lasting, natural deer horn) before leaving can help distract it and not pay too much attention to the owner's absence.

5) Training with vocal commands: Dogs can be trained to react to certain vocal commands that will make them stop barking. These can work well in the case of sounds such as the doorbell, or knocking on doors. You can choose signals such as “Quiet,” “Calm,” “Silent,” “Sit,” and “Stay,” but it's important that they are given firmly and not aggressively. Combine a body command, like a finger on the lips. The dog will recognize it even if it becomes deaf in old age.

6) Physical exercise: Tiring the dog can affect the animal's behavior and have good effects on barking. A tired dog falls asleep faster and tends to bark less.

7) Dog socialization: Socializing the dog from a puppy and getting it used to interacting with other animals and people outside the family will limit barking when they enter its territory.

8) Anti-barking products: There are some products to stop the dog from barking, for example:

Ultrasonic anti-barking device: It's a device that emits a sound imperceptible to human hearing but serves as a warning signal for the dog. It also works outdoors.

Citronella collar: It's a collar that releases citronella, one of the most unpleasant smells for a dog. The barking dog then receives an olfactory impulse that works as a deterrent and quickly brings it back to quiet. Most are activated only with the dog's bark, but without control, the dog will not be able to bark at all. It's better to choose an anti-bark collar with remote control and use the spray mode only when necessary.

Vibration anti-bark collar (without shocks): It's not an electric collar, it emits a light vibration and some sounds that get the dog used to stopping when the barking becomes annoying.

Calming chewable treats: They are generally infused with hemp oil or valerian and are very suitable for dogs suffering from separation anxiety.

Pheromone calming collars: These are collars infused with a substance that reproduces the pheromones of the mother during lactation and naturally calms the dog. There are also pheromone diffusers, which work even better and are perfect if the dog barks indoors.

Aromatherapy calming oils: There are pet-friendly sprays or wall diffusers based on substances like lavender, chamomile, and Egyptian geranium, which, if sprayed in the home or near the animal, immediately calm it. It's important not to use diffusers with essential oils for human use that are not compatible with the dog, as you could poison it. Personally, I prefer pheromone diffusers, they are safer and work better.

Anxiety coat: It's a coat that works through contact and puts weight on the animal's body: thanks to the pressure, it should calm it. It doesn't work with all subjects.

CBD oil: Hemp oil is known for its calming effect, it's completely natural and is excellent for dogs suffering from joint pain or for older dogs.

IMPORTANT:

The electric collar, very popular in the United States (where it is actually used for all kinds of commands, given the high number of molosser types like Pitbulls), is fortunately banned in Italy.

It's an invasive and cruel treatment: the dog receives an electric shock every time it barks, and the long-term trauma will push it to never bark again, having deleterious effects also on its psychophysical health. Don't buy it abroad, don't ruin your dog's life, even if it's a dog that barks too much!

How to interpret a dog's bark

Understanding and interpreting a dog's language can be useful in addressing the annoyance of a noisy, continuous barking.

The dog's barks differ according to different situations:

Intermittent barks to express happiness
Insistent and continuous barking when the animal perceives a danger and sends an alarm signal
Short or sharp barks to greet
Persistent howling when feeling lonely
Short and brief whines to attract attention
Longer and intermittent whines to express pain

Dog's right to bark: what are the animal's rights

What does the law say about dogs that bark too much?

In terms of jurisprudence, a ruling from August 11, 2006, establishes that "Dogs have the right to bark, as it is considered an essential right of dogs."

Another from June 19, 2012, established that: "Dogs have the right to bark, especially if someone or something approaches their territory, provided the noises do not exceed the tolerability threshold established in the civil code."

The tolerability threshold is 5 decibels from 6 am to 10 pm and 3 decibels during the night hours.

The dog, therefore, has the right to bark, but this will not make life easy for the owner attacked by neighbors who threaten the crime of public disturbance.

And how exactly to determine the volume of the decibels in question? It's not an easy task.

Can I get fined for a dog that barks too much?

Can I get fined if my dog disturbs my neighbor or people in the surrounding area?

If the dog barks too much, it can incur the crime of public disturbance and consequently get fined if it disturbs the neighbor or people in the surrounding area.

If the animal disturbs people during rest hours, especially at night, or during their daily occupations, you could indeed face a penalty.

This applies whether you live in a condominium, a single house, or in the countryside. In the case of a report, the owner risks arrest for up to three months and a fine of up to 309 euros.

Being an ex officio crime, a simple report or complaint by neighbors will suffice.

The police can intervene and, with the authorization of the justice of the peace, can proceed with the preventive seizure of the dog, in case of danger of reiteration of the crime.

However, there must be serious reasons for this type of situation to occur.

In cases where the noise only disturbs a few people (sometimes it's simply a matter of tensions between neighbors not due to disturbance during rest hours or even to the dog itself), it will be a simple civil offense.

In this case, where a complaint cannot be made, but only through a lawyer and going to court.

The judge may issue a request to adopt some measures that limit the problem, such as soundproofing the apartment.

It's always better to find a way to prevent people close to us from having to live with annoying noises that disturb their occupations.

If the dog is a source of disturbance, it will be our goal to limit the problem, because the animal is the responsibility of the owner who must always respect the law and ensure rest and peace in the surrounding area.

Note from the author

I invite all readers to share their experience on this topic in the comment section.

Any information you wish to share on health, character, products, and advice on education or diet will help us create a great community of owners who not only love dogs but also know how to manage them best.

From the Staff of Khani.co.uk

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Disclaimer

The information on our site is of a general nature and does not in any way replace the opinion of the veterinarian or industry experts. Always turn to the veterinarian for any doubts.