Earlier this month, we shared tips for training your dog before the holiday season. Now, we’re here to talk about one of the biggest issues our dog owners discuss in ADU training classes: incessant barking. What can you do if your dog barks at house guests? Will you be able to address the problem in time to host a successful holiday gathering? The answer is yes. Here are some of our top tips for dealing with barking.
Address Underlying Anxiety
Do you know why it is that your dog barks at your house guests? Some dogs bark because they don’t know how to appropriately engage and express their excitement. Others bark because they’re anxious, and there are a few tell-tale signs that this might be the case. Listen for growling and look for body language like hunching, raised hackles, and whale eyes. If your dog is showing signs of anxiety, consult a dog behavioralist for solutions. As a short-term solution, talk to your vet about anxiety medication.
Use Positive Reinforcement
When your dog barks, do you raise your voice and tell her again and again to stop it? If so, you’re pretty much just barking along with her. This type of discipline isn’t going to get you very far, but positive reinforcement will. Rather than engaging with your dog when she is barking, engage with her as soon as she stops. Give her a treat, pet her, and allow your guests to greet her only when she quiets down. Over time, she’ll learn that not barking is the easiest way to get what she wants.
Practice Desensitization
To make plenty of opportunities for positive reinforcement, you need to trigger the barking response. Ask a friend or family member if they’ll help you by coming over once a day or a few times a week leading up to your holiday gathering. If possible, bring a few different people into the rotation. This method has the added advantage of desensitizing your dog. When people enter her home frequently and it ends up being a pleasant experience, she’ll learn that house guests are welcome and that barking isn’t necessary.
Provide Appropriate Distractions
If your dog is less of an anxious barker and more of an excited barker, it may help to give her something other than your guest to direct that energy towards. Good examples include lick mats, food puzzles, or Kong toys filled with a healthy treat. Steer clear of toys that tend to get your dog more ramped up, like tug toys or her favorite ball. Provide the distraction soon after your guest arrives, preferably in your dog’s “place.”
Seek Professional Help for Barking
If you can’t seem to get your dog to bark less at house guests, you’re not alone. Fortunately, professional dog trainers can provide insight and hands-on solutions to make the process a little easier. Find the All Dogs Unleashed location nearest you and sign up for dog training classes today!