How to get your dog to stop barking

Six ways to control your dog's barking

Here are six ways that can help stop your dog from barking. While all of them can be very successful, do not expect results overnight. The longer your dog has been an excessive barker, the longer it will take for them to change their ways.

Some of these training techniques require you to have an idea as to why your dog barks.

• Don't yell at your dog to be quiet—it just sounds like you're barking along with them. Then it just becomes a challenge for them.

• Keep your training sessions positive and upbeat.

• Be consistent so you don't confuse your dog. Everyone in your family must apply the training methods every time your dog barks inappropriately. You can't let your dog get away with inappropriate barking some times and not others.

Remove the motivation

Your dog gets some kind of reward when he barks. Otherwise, they wouldn't do it. Figure out what your dog gets out of barking and remove it. Don't give your dog the opportunity to continue the barking behavior.

For example: Barking at passersby

• If they bark at people or animals passing by the living room window, manage their behavior by closing the curtains or putting your dog in another room.

• If they bark at passersby when in the yard, bring them into the house. Never leave your dog outside unsupervised all day and night.

Ignore the barking

Ignore your dog's barking for as long as it takes them to stop. That means don't give them any attention at all while barking. Your attention only rewards them for being noisy. Don't talk to them, don't touch them, and don't even look at them. When they finally quiet down, even to take a breath, reward them with a treat.

To be successful with this method, you must wait as long as it takes for them to stop barking. If they bark for an hour and you finally get so frustrated that you yell at them to be quiet, the next time they will probably bark for an hour and a half. They learn that if they bark long enough you'll give them attention.

Example: Barking when confined

• When you put your dog in their crate or in a gated room, turn your back and ignore them.

• Once they stop barking, turn around, praise them, and give them a treat.

• As they catch on that being quiet gets them a treat, lengthen the amount of time they must remain quiet before being rewarded.

• Remember to start small by rewarding them for being quiet for just a few seconds, then working up to longer periods of quiet.

• Keep it fun by varying the amount of time. Sometimes reward them after 5 seconds, then 12 seconds, then 3 seconds, then 20 seconds, and so on.

Desensitize your dog to the stimulus

Gradually get your dog accustomed to whatever is causing them to bark. Start with the stimulus (the thing that makes them bark) at a distance. It must be far enough away that they don't bark when they see it. Feed them lots of good treats. Move the stimulus a little closer (perhaps as little as a few inches or a few feet to start) and feed treats. If the stimulus moves out of sight, stop giving your dog treats. You want your dog to learn that the appearance of the stimulus leads to good things (treats!).

Example: Barking at dogs

• Have a friend with a dog stand out of sight or far enough away so your dog won't bark at the other dog.

• As your friend and their dog comes into view, start feeding your dog lots of very delicious treats.

• Stop feeding treats as soon as your friend and their dog disappear from view.

• Repeat the process multiple times.

• Remember not to try to progress too quickly as it may take days or weeks before your dog can pay attention to you and the treats without barking at the other dog.

Teach your dog the "quiet" command

It may sound nonsensical, but the first step of this technique is to teach your dog to bark on command. Give your dog the command to "speak," wait for them to bark two or three times, and then stick a tasty treat in front of their nose. When they stop barking to sniff the treat, praise them and give them the treat. Repeat until they start barking as soon as you say "speak."

Once your dog can reliably bark on command, teach them the "quiet" command. In a calm environment with no distractions, tell them to "speak." When he starts barking, say "quiet" and stick a treat in front of his nose. Praise them for being quiet and give them the treat.

Example: Someone at the door

• When the doorbell rings, your dog alerts you to the presence of an "intruder" by barking wildly.

• Once you've taught your dog the "quiet" command in a calm environment, practice in increasingly distracting situations until your dog can immediately stop barking when asked to, even when that "intruder" arrives at the door.

Ask your dog for an incompatible behavior

When your dog starts barking, ask him to do something that's incompatible with barking. Teaching your dog to react to barking stimuli with something that inhibits them from barking, such as lying down in their bed.

Example: Someone at the door

• Toss a treat on their mat and tell him to "go to your place."

• When they are reliably going to their mat to earn a treat, up the ante by opening the door while they are on their mat. If they get up, close the door immediately.

• Repeat until they stay on their mat while the door opens.

• Then increase the difficulty by having someone ring the doorbell while your dog is on their mat. Reward them if they stay in place.

Keep your dog tired

Make sure your dog is getting sufficient physical and mental exercise every day. A tired dog is a good dog and one who is less likely to bark from boredom or frustration. Depending on their breed, age, and health, your dog may require several long walks as well as a good game of chasing the ball and playing with some interactive toys.

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Related: We have more information under our dog health tag.

January Is National Train Your Dog Month

What Is National Train Your Dog Month?

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) began their campaign, National Train Your Dog Month, in January of 2010, hoping to raise awareness about the importance of proper pet training and healthy socialization to a dog’s well-being.

Why January? Because so many dogs and puppies are adopted around the holidays, and because a good number of those dogs are given up to animal shelters or abandoned soon after. APDT understands training could be the one thing that makes or breaks a dog’s chance to stay with their family and in their home.

Training Keeps Dogs In Forever Homes

Though most people who get a dog do so with the best intentions, those who wind up surrendering their new pets to the shelter often do so because they just can’t cope with their dog’s behavioral issues. Maybe the dog is hyperactive, yappy, or destructive. Perhaps they’re fearful, shy, lashing out, or behaving aggressively. Most often, it’s not because they’re bad dogs. It’s because they don’t have the tools they need to know how to behave appropriately.
Inexperienced owners might try temporary fixes that only make problems more severe, like isolation from the house and family, yelling, shock collars, or worse. By the time these dogs end up in a shelter, they’re confused and ill-equipped for life in a home.

That makes January the perfect month to remind pet parents, new and experienced, to take the time to train their furry friends. With consistency, well-timed praise and rewards, a level head, lots of practice, and the guidance of an experienced dog-training professional, you and your pooch will learn and grow all year long.

Training: Learning Is Bonding

Lastly, remember that training your dog is not only beneficial; it’s also a lot of fun. Dogs thrive on mental stimulation. They love the chance to learn and practice something new. However, more than anything, they will relish the opportunity to bask in your undivided attention as you work toward a common goal together.

Time spent training is time spent bonding, making priceless memories, and building a strong relationship between you and your dog. Isn’t that what having a dog is all about?

If you would like to learn more about National Train Your Dog Month, then visit the campaign’s website or the Association of Professional Dog Trainers on Facebook today.

Do you plan to do some dog training during National Train Your Dog Month? Then let us know what you and your dog are learning in the comments below!

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Related: We have more information under our dog health tag.

When Should I Take My Bird to a Vet?

Many species of pet birds have a long lifespan, and most people who obtain a companion or aviary bird expect a long-term, rewarding relationship with their bird. An avian veterinarian, monitoring your bird’s health, can play a vital role in this goal. The Association of Avian Veterinarians (AAV) recommends regular checkups for companion birds to ensure they live a full, healthy life.

How Your Veterinarian Can Help

Your avian veterinarian can advise you as to the characteristics of the many pet bird species to help you decide which would be most suitable for you. An avian veterinarian can also teach you to identify obvious signs of illness, which will help you to choose a healthy bird. Bird health is difficult to evaluate, and the knowledge of how to recognize a healthy bird is a valuable tool.

Post-purchase Exam

When buying a cat or dog, it is customary to take the new pet to a veterinarian for a health check. This same health check is important for a newly purchased bird, not only to protect your financial investment, but also to protect the health of other birds, pets, and even people in the home. Many diseases and other health problems are not obvious by just looking at the bird. An avian veterinarian is trained to recognize subtle signs that indicate health problems and can use testing to screen for problems not visible upon physical examination. Ask your avian veterinarian about screening tests for bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and about blood tests to monitor organ function and other physiological processes. A blood test should also be done to determine the sex of your bird since males and females can have different health issues. Additionally, discuss vaccinating your bird against viral diseases.

Learn How to Best House and Feed Your Bird

Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate cage with proper perches, fun toys, foraging feeders, water sources, and other cage accessories to ensure that your bird is comfortable and secure for their species. Your avian veterinarian can also make recommendations for feeding your bird properly, and what treats are healthy and safe to give to your bird.

Have a Well-trained, Responsive Bird

Your avian veterinarian can explain normal and abnormal behaviors and many avian veterinarians can assist with behavior modifications so you may truly enjoy the companionship of your pet bird. Birds need to learn that biting, screaming and other unwanted behaviors are unacceptable in the home environment, and at the same time, owners must have realistic expectations of a pet bird. The psychological well-being of the owner and the bird are equally important to establish and maintain a good relationship.

Annual Health Checkup

AAV recommends that you have your bird seen by an avian veterinarian at minimum of once per year. Annual visits allow your veterinarian to 1) establish normal values that can be used as a baseline, and 2) to screen for problems that cannot be seen. Disease and other health problems in birds can be difficult to identify, consequently, an annual health check is essential in the prevention and early detection of illness.

Related articles:

• 5 Steps to a Better Bird Welfare for ideas

• Common Signs of Stress in Birds

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Common Signs of Stress in Birds

While it is often difficult for bird owners to tell whether their pet is sick, as birds commonly hide signs of illness, it is even harder for most bird owners to tell if their pets are unhappy or stressed. Birds can certainly feel these emotions and hide them until these feelings become so extreme that they are manifested either physically or through behavioral changes. Birds can express unhappiness and stress in several different ways.

How can a bird owner tell that their bird is stressed or unhappy? Here are some common signs of stress and unhappiness in their pet birds:

1 - Biting

While many bird owners misinterpret birds’ biting as an act of aggression, this behavior is often a sign of stress and fear. Birds will frequently bite and lunge to try to protect themselves when they are afraid. Since biting also may be a sign of pain or discomfort in birds, a bird that suddenly starts biting a lot should have a complete veterinary examination to ensure there is no underlying medical problem for this new behavior.

2 - Screaming

Depending on their species, a bird will make loud noises. However, a sudden increase in screaming and screeching may indicate that a bird is stressed, unhappy, or bored. Just as biting can be indicative of pain or discomfort, so can screaming. Thus, any bird that suddenly starts screaming should be checked out by a veterinarian to ensure there is no underlying medical issue for this behavior.

3 - Decreased vocalization

While screaming can indicate underlying stress or unhappiness in birds, so can decreased vocalization. Birds that suddenly start to vocalize less may be stressed, unhappy, bored, or ill. It is imperative that any bird who suddenly vocalizes less be examined as soon as possible to make sure that there is no medical cause for this change in behavior.

4 - Feather picking

Feather picking is a very common outward manifestation of stress and boredom, particularly in larger species, such as Eclectus parrots, cockatoos, and African gray parrots, but this is also seen in smaller birds, including Quakers parrots and lovebirds. Some birds will start picking as a result of an initiating cause, such as loud noise or the occurrence of construction in the house. They may even continue to pick even when that initiating stimulus is gone. Feather-picking birds should have a thorough medical examination by a veterinarian that includes blood work to help rule out other causes of illness.

5 - Self-mutilation

Some very stressed or unhappy birds will go beyond feather-picking to the more extreme manifestation of chewing on their skin or even dig deeper into muscle and bone, causing severe trauma. These birds must not only be examined by a veterinarian immediately, but also be started on anti-psychotic medication and/or fitted with an Elizabethan collar (the “cones” that dogs wear) to prevent them from doing further damage while the owner and veterinarian try to figure out what’s going on.

6 - Stereotypical behaviors

Some species, but especially cockatoos, manifest stress as stereotypical behaviors such as pacing, toe-tapping, and head swinging. Often, birds perform these behaviors to stimulate themselves because they are bored. While these behaviors may be harmless, they can be a sign that the bird is unhappy, and owners should pay attention to these actions before they progress to more destructive activities such as feather-picking or self-mutilation.

7 - Decreased appetite

Birds that are so stressed that they are depressed may eat less and ultimately may lose weight. Since decreased appetite can also be a sign of medical disease, birds whose appetites change should be thoroughly examined by a veterinarian to make sure they aren’t hiding an underlying illness.

Related articles: 5 Steps to a Better Bird Welfare for ideas

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5 Steps to Better Bird Welfare

#1 Fresh Food

Provide a healthy and varied diet—not just seeds, but grains, beans, vegetables (cooked and raw), formulated pellets, and some fruit. Harmful foods for birds include chocolate, avocado, highly processed or overly salted foods, human junk food, and caffeine.

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#2 Flight

Think outside the cage. Provide your bird with daily exercise and ample out-of-cage time, preferably in a safe, supervised environment. For day-to-day life, give your bird the largest enclosure possible.

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#3 Fun

Provide toys and enriching activities. No more boring, barren cages. Birds love toys that can be chewed up, so this means buying or making bird toys frequently.

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#4 Flock

Provide plenty of socialization with other birds and/or human caretakers. Birds are social flock animals. In the wild, they are rarely—if ever— alone.

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#5 Freshen Up

Birds need access to water for bathing. Some birds prefer to bathe in a shallow dish while others will enjoy being misted with a water bottle. There are also some that may enjoy perching in a cool human shower.

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Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered to your inbox (here). Or, you can keep up to date by liking and following our Facebook page (here).

Related: We have more information under our small animal care & avian resources categories.