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If your dog has a barking problem; it can be difficult finding a solution that works. As with any sort of undesirable behavior, the key to solving it is to communicate clearly to your dog what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behavior.

A lot of us dog owners make the error of rewarding our dogs when they go overboard with their barking. This, rather than curbing the behavior, actually reinforces it and encourages them to keep right on barking. The three things that are the biggest mistakes made by dog owners trying to stop their dogs from barking are these:

1. Yelling at the dog. Screaming at your dog does nothing but give them the attention they were trying to get by barking.

2. Letting your dog inside. If your dog is outside barking up a storm, letting him in will make him think that he will be rewarded for this behavior.

3. If you react to your dog's barking by petting them or dispensing treats, this most certainly encourages them to continue their barking. This shows your dog that he has done something which you approve of. You need to make it clear that this barking is unacceptable behavior.

Give these training techniques a try: Use these dog training techniques:

Don't scream at your dog. Basic dog obedience training will clear up problems like excessive barking for this reason - your dog will learn to think of you as their pack leader and want to please you whenever possible. The 'Quiet!' or 'Stop' commands, learned in obedience training will get your dog to knock off the barking.

If your dog tends to bark while you are away, you can solve this problem by withholding attention from them when you get home. Like most dog owners, you probably want to shower affection on your pet when you get home, but you must not let your dog associate their barking with your return (and petting, treats, etc.). Wait for your dog to calm down before you pay attention to them.

Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something

This is one of the easiest barking problems to resolve. By establishing yourself as the 'pack leader', your dog will cease the barking problem quickly and will establish a proper relationship between you and your dog.

Dog Barks At Passers By

If your dog barks at the mailman and delivery drivers, it is because your dog sees these people as invaders on their territory. The dog barks and is rewarded by the withdrawal of this 'intruder'. Your dog is obviously then pleased with themselves at having protected your home. Your dog will do this again and again - which is why this can be a hard problem to solve.

If your dog has this problem of barking at a certain person (e.g. - the mailman), you can correct the behavior by giving the mailman your dog's favorite treat. Your dog will then come to look at this person as a friend rather than as an intruder.

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

There are those who are proponents of debarking surgery for extreme cases, but in my experience, this is never truly necessary. If you have tried everything else though, you can talk about this with your vet as a last resort.

Dog obedience training is the way to solve your dog's behavioral problems (like stopping your dog from barking) as well as the best method of building a solid bond with your pet.

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