Sick of hearing your canine’s self-made soundtrack on replay? The trick to putting a barking dog on pause is to find out why he’s yapping in the first place. The two most commons reasons? Dogs bark either when they are trying to get your attention or they are seeing something that frightens or intimidates them. As with any undesired dog behavior, you need to treat the underlying problem—not just the symptom—if you want to stop dog barking. Listen up: We’ve got the advice for dealing with your chatty pooch.
Startling Sounds Will Stop Barking Dogs
Dogs hate to be startled by sudden, loud noises (who doesn’t?), and you can use that to your advantage when you’re trying to stop a barking dog. Create an inexpensive dog-barking deterrent at home. Just drop a few pennies, screws, or pebbles into a clean, empty soda can, and seal the opening well with some duct tape. When the dog barks, say “Quiet” or “Hush” in a firm tone as you either toss the can on the ground or give it a few good shakes. (If you toss it, just drop it on the ground so that it rolls and makes noise—no need to throw it at your pup.) The sound will startle the dog, and he’ll stop barking. He’ll also learn the “Quiet” command, which is an invaluable dog training success.