It is a fact, dogs bark to communicate. Some breeds bark more than others but all dogs bark sometimes. It is when a dog barks excessively and without good reason that everyone gets annoyed. We all appreciate communication from our dogs but nobody wants a dog that barks and barks for no apparent reason.

There are quite a few reasons why a dog will bark. If your dog is bored because he stays in the house or the same yard all the time he may start barking for entertainment. Dogs love social stimulation and interacting with others. Try to incorporate more playtimes or go for more walks. This may help your dog if he is barking excessively because of boredom.

Dogs will bark when they feel nervous or scared. Some dogs never get properly socialized and therefore the slightest thing can scare them. While you are training your dog take him to many different places and have him be around a variety of people. Reward him when he is well behaved and quiet. A food treat will do wonders to keep him calm in different places and different situations. Soon he will start associating being quiet and well behaved with the treat and this will work wonders towards his excessive barking under these conditions.

Dogs will try to get your attention when they want something by barking. You want your dog to communicate with you but you do not want this type of barking to get out of control. If you respond to his barking by giving him what he wants he will continue to bark every time. Try to reinforce other communication behaviors by giving praise and treats.

Sometimes dogs bark from separation anxiety. They just don’t want you to leave them and they bark until you come home. This is disturbing to the neighbors and others so it is usually something you need to stop. It may be easier to do this if you start when your dog is still a pup and put him in the crate before you leave. That way he is happily in his own space and he will not miss you quite so much. Also never make a big deal out of leaving but just quietly slip away. He will likely notice that you are gone but he won’t be so vocal about it.

Dogs bark when they want to protect the people that they love. This is most often considered to be a good thing unless your dog is barking excessively to protect you from the mailman (or mail person!) every single day! In that case try to distract your dog with a treat or a game. You can also introduce your dog to the mailman. If he becomes familiar with the people who come by most often then he is less likely to bark excessively. If your dog barks to protect you though, you should be grateful as someday you may find yourself in a situation where you need that.

There are many ways to help stop excessive barking. You can hire a professional dog trainer that can give you some tips. Oftentimes more socialization and more playtimes will help him to bark less. One thing to keep in mind though is that most often your dog is barking for a reason. Find out what that reason is and then deal with it.

If your dog only barks for proper communication you and others like you will enjoy your dog more. Start training your dog not to bark excessively while he is just a puppy and by the time he is grown up you will know that if he is barking it is for a good reason.

Important training tips for your pet dog also discover what dog training video I used to train my dog in a few minutes a day.