A dog that will not stop barking can be annoying not just to you, but also to surrounding neighbors. It seems that no matter what you do to try and stop the dog, it just will not stop barking.

Well – it’s not like the dog is barking on purpose just to upset you. You’ve got to start becoming more aware of the “dog’s barking trends”.

Pay careful attention to the barking behavior. Can you identify a trigger? Can you spot something that is obviously bothering him, or is it something harder to see? Most barking is caused when a dog spots a stranger approaching or standing nearby.

Dogs are territorial by nature, so they bark as a warning to safeguard their own space.

The real key to get your dog to stop barking is to simply be prepared. Know what’s the cause of it and act upon it before he starts barking. For instance, if the dog barks at the mailman, be prepared for it.

Right before the neighbor typically comes home, you should put a leash on your dog. As the sound of his truck nears, tug on the leash so that the dog understands you are next to him. Sometimes it helps to comfort him by petting.

In fact, if your dog is an outdoor dog, keeping a squirt gun in hand may be a good idea. Before your dog really gets going with his barking, give him a reminder squirt with the water gun. Soon he’ll associate the barking behavior with that unpleasant consequence.

Also this doesn’t mean anything if you don’t reward him for when he doesn’t bark. They need both positive and negative reinforcement.