Dog Reports

Are you frustrated with your new puppy’s excessive barking and whining?  If you don’t take steps now to stop puppy barking, you may end up with a dog with barking problems.  It’s much easier to teach your dog good habits now than to try to change established bad dog habits later on.The Nuisance Barking Is Driving You CrazyMost new pet owners don’t realize how much a young canine will bark and howl.  It’s normal for him to be upset for a few days.  After all, he’s always been around his mom and littermates, and now, all of a sudden, they’re gone.  It’s all right to reassure him and comfort him, but the key is when you do it.  No matter how pitiful he is, never comfort him when he’s barking or whining.  All you’re doing is teaching him is the excessive barking is the way to get attention from you.  Wait until he stops before giving him any attention at all.  How to stop a barking puppy?  There are several ways.  Make a noisemaker by putting a few pennies in an empty pop can and taping it shut.  Shake it loudly when he’s barking, and the noise will usually startle him into silence.  Shake it whenever he barks.  Don’t give him any other attention when he’s barking or whining.  He’ll soon learn that nuisance barking doesn’t get him anywhere with you.  A humane way to quickly quiet a barking dog is to say, “enough,” and hold his muzzle shut firmly but gently with your hand.  He’ll try to back away or shake your hand off.  Hold him by his collar so he can’t, and hold onto him until he becomes calm and stops wiggling around.  This means he’s accepted your leadership.  This works for two reasons.  First, he can’t bark with his mouth shut!  Second, you’re showing him that you’re the leader, you expect him to listen to you, and you won’t hesitate to enforce your authority.  This is an important lesson for him to learn, and will prevent many future dog behavior problems.

Reinforce Good BehaviorMany puppies bark because they’re full of energy.  Sometimes they get too excited when you’re playing with them and bark out of excitement.  In this case, take a time-out and let him calm down.  Use up all that excess energy with plenty of exercise and play time.  Many dog owners don’t realize that their pets need at least an hour and a half of exercise every day.  Walking him in the morning and evening is a great way to exercise him (and you) and spend quality time with him.  He’ll also enjoy seeing new people and places in his walks, which will help him accept new situations more easily.Obedience classes are a great idea.  He’ll learn to listen to you even when there are lots of distractions.  A good dog training program will also help you establish good habits while he’s still young.  Don’t wait to get started to prevent barking problems and stop puppy barking.  Your new friend will be much more fun to be around when he’s quiet and well-behaved.