My dog is always Barking

Why do dogs do this?

To resolve the problem, you first need to figure out why your dog is barking. In this case, they are guarding the house against unwanted intruders. When they bark, the passer by goes away, so they can claim the credit for a good job done. If you shout at your dog for barking, you are effectively joining in and egging him on!

What works for me?

You need to teach your dog that you do not need him to guard your window/fence/gate.

Firstly, move the sofa away from the window slightly to make a gap wide enough to walk behind. This also has the benefit of making it slightly more difficult for him to get to the window sill.

Then, each time the barking starts, physically put yourself between the dog and the window/fence/gate and herd him away. When he moves away and stops barking, praise him “GOOD BOY” and reward him with a treat.

Repeat this until you no longer need to herd your dog away. Ideally when someone walks past the window/fence/gate, he will look at you, and then praise him with a “GOOD BOY” and reward him with a treat. Bingo!

Change the environment

If you are worried that your dog will still bark when you are out at work then draw the curtains, or put up some window screening so the dog can't see the passers by and feel the need to guard the house.

In tandem, teach your dog settle on his bed using Susan Garratts Hot Zone training technique. This will encourage him to sleep in his bed, rather than on the back of the sofa.

Good luck trying this with your dog - I’m sure your neighbours will be very grateful!

Desensitising to the TV

If your dog is barking and lunging at the TV when other dogs or cats appear, or even barking at the TV in general, here is a training video on how to overcome this.

Never punish your dog for barking

Please avoid using 'anti-bark devices" for your dog. Gadgets such as bark collars, water sprays and any shock devices are called "aversives" and whilst they may temporarily stop the barking, they can also have unintended consequences such as :

• they don't address the underlying reason for your dog's barking and will only work if you have the spray bottle to hand.

• if you spray your dog with water when he is barking at the dog passing outside, he may make a negative connection between the passing dog and the spray, and you may end up making him fearful of other dogs.

• ruining the trust between you and your dog and making your dog fear you, making your dog less likely to follow your instructions in the future.

• if you use a bark device for a dog that has separation anxiety, not only is the dog anxious about being left, but by strapping on a bark collar, he also experiences discomfort when he expresses himself. You are not doing anything to help him feel more comfortable and relaxed, just making him more stressed about being left.

Furthermore, do not shout at your dog for barking. If you shout, your dog will see it as you joining in and effectively egging him on.