The dog is disturbing the neighbors: what to do

Is it possible to stop a dog from barking?

You can correct an animal's behavior at any age. But sometimes this is more difficult to do:

• The pet has been living in the house for a long time, but previously no attention was paid to its upbringing. Suddenly the owner decided to stop the dog from barking for no reason.
• The breed itself is very “vocal” - this feature is due to the type of higher nervous activity.
• Older pets' senses work worse, so they lose the ability to objectively perceive reality. Then the four-legged friends begin to bark for no reason.
• People got an adult dog with already formed habits.

The easiest way to stop a puppy from barking is because the baby absorbs information like a sponge. It is also necessary to start correcting the behavior of an adult dog as early as possible. The more the dog barks in vain, the stronger this habit becomes.

How to stop a dachshund from barking at home

One of the main problems that almost every owner of any dog ​​has to face is unwanted barking when the owners are away from home. Owners may not know that their dog barks when they leave the house, but frantic neighbors will definitely tell you about your dog's inappropriate behavior.

If this problem has not affected you, then you can safely count yourself among the lucky owners :) Most likely, your puppy also whined and barked when he first came to your house. But either this problem went away on its own a few days or weeks after the puppy appeared in your apartment, or it remained and tormented you and those around you. So, what to do if your dachshund barks alone

?

Dachshund

– the dog is very energetic and sociable, and with its barking it can fight its own loneliness, stress, boredom, anxiety and other conditions that are unpleasant for it.
What can be done to stop a dachshund from barking
?

1. Teach your dachshund to bark on command.

. This is a very effective way to control dog barking. The “Voice” command is given either at the moment when the dog is already barking, or just before he is about to bark, or you need to specifically provoke barking. In our case, the harmonica coped with this task perfectly. As soon as we started playing it, our dachshund tried in every possible way to “sing along” with it. We turned this to our advantage - before the game we gave the dachshund the “Voice” command, then played a few chords on the accordion, and our dog began to bark :) Gradually, we completely excluded the accordion from this chain of actions. You can excite your dachshund in any other way available to you, for example, start jumping or barking yourself. Observe your dog's behavior and you will easily understand what makes your dog want to bark. And then the sequence of your actions is extremely simple - command “Voice”, provoke barking, listen to a few barks and praise your dachshund.

2. Teach your dachshund the command “Quiet”

. To do this, while barking, command the dog “Quiet!” or “Be quiet!”, then put your hand on the dachshund’s muzzle and, if he is silent for even a moment, praise him. Repeat this exercise regularly. If the dog does not shut up at the same time, then instead of your palm, you can also use a spray of a water cloud from a spray bottle.

3. Before leaving home, try turning on the radio so that your dog doesn't feel so lonely.

4. Teach your dachshund the “Wait” command

. To do this, before each time you go out the door, simply tell your dog “Wait.” At first, return almost immediately, gradually increasing the time the dog is alone to several hours. In this way, the dachshund will gradually learn what awaits him after the command “Wait” - he will begin to understand that you have left and will definitely return.

5. Make your arrival and departure from home as unemotional as possible.

. Leave without unnecessary worries and long goodbyes, as they say, “long farewells mean extra tears.” They commanded “Wait” and closed the door behind them. Returning home also should not be reduced to wild joy, let it become an ordinary, everyday event. Do not respond to the dachshund's jumping and other expressions of wild delight. Reduce the intensity of passions. Calmly change into your home clothes and only after that give your dachshund as much attention as you want.

6. When leaving home, give your dachshund a new toy.

or a bone made of veins so that she has something to do in your absence.

7. Combine training the commands “Wait” and “Quiet” at home - command the dog to “Wait” and go out the door. Come back and praise your dachshund for waiting quietly.

. If she barked during your absence, command “Quiet” from behind the door. If the dog is silent, come back and praise him. Just don't go back to the barking dog! Remember that by returning you are reinforcing its behavior - only return to a dog that is silent, even if it has stopped barking for a few seconds.

8. Set up a cozy house for your dachshund

, make her den a place where the dachshund is calm and comfortable to be. Put something there that smells like yourself, perhaps this will make it easier for the dog to survive separation from you.

9. Make your morning walks long.

and even tiring for
a dachshund
.
Walk along new streets,
active games with your dachshund

10. Feed your dachshund to its fullest

before you leave. On a full stomach, all stress eases a little :)

Instrumental and radical ways to deal with dachshund barking.

1. There are training collars that can detect barking dogs.

inject a small cloud of citron scent into the air, like a small spray or spray.
The dog is distracted from barking and gradually finds a relationship between these events. Since such a rather sharp and strong smell is unpleasant for dogs, you can count on gradually weaning your dog off from barking
. There are also other modifications of this collar - ultrasonic and electric.

2. You can also find special muzzles

, which prevent the dog from barking with its mouth wide open, but it is possible to drink, eat and whine in them.

3. Surgery on the dog’s ligaments. The veterinarian shortens the dog's ligaments, as a result, its barking becomes quiet

. The operation is performed under anesthesia. But each owner decides for himself the question of the appropriateness and humaneness of this method.

4. Get a second dachshund :)

Good luck and patience to you and your dachshunds! There are no hopeless situations :)

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Reasons for Loud Behavior

Frequent barking does not mean that the dog is an empty-headed dog. The voice is the main way of expressing emotions. This is how animals express both negative and positive reactions to any event.

The main reasons why a dog barks at trifles:

• Excitement – ​​the pet hears extraneous noises or finds itself in an unfamiliar situation.
• Fear - the animal is frightened by loud sounds, such as fireworks and fireworks. We need to help him stop being afraid of external stimuli.
• Lack of communication - the pet is alone for a long time in a confined space. Animals, unlike humans, do not know how to entertain themselves on their own. By barking they try to attract the attention of the owner.
• Play – dogs are quite emotional. Carried away by a fun game, they bark, expressing joy.
• Aggression - even the most well-mannered and calm dogs periodically get angry: at other four-legged animals that cross the boundaries of what is permitted, or at people who encroach on their territory.
• Jealousy – a pet may not like the fact that the owner is petting another animal. Then he barks loudly, showing displeasure.

To stop a dog from barking, you need to identify the reasons for the unwanted behavior. Having eliminated the source of discomfort, you can begin education.

Long and monotonous barking for no apparent reason may indicate health or mental problems.

Why do dogs bark?

Before you figure out how to stop a dog from barking, you need to find the cause of the unwanted behavior. Remember that it is always there.

Calling barking a way of communication is not entirely correct, since dogs most often use whining or guttural sounds when talking to each other. If they bark, it is because they are overexcited. Usually they are brought into this state:

• boredom;
• fear;
• stress;
• joy.

Analyze the situation in which your pet breaks into barking. This will help to find out the cause of the excitement.

Alone

The pet, left alone in the apartment, tries to protect it from potential robbers. He barks to scare away ill-wishers.

Animals should not be left alone for a long time, as they quickly become bored. Particularly emotional and hyperactive dogs will try to attract attention even if the owner has simply gone into the next room. They can be calmed down with a long walk or active games. In the absence of sufficient attention, more serious behavioral disorders occur.

If the dog is cowardly and unsure of himself, then a long absence from a person can cause great fear. It will react to any noise, trying to scare away a possible threat. Other common causes of fright include thunderstorms, fireworks, or other loud noises.

At night

Dogs are not cats. At night, their vision deteriorates greatly, making spatial orientation difficult. They can be frightened by any shapeless silhouettes or swaying shadows. That is why four-legged pets try to spend the night next to their owners.

On the street

Sounds on the street are much brighter than in a quiet apartment. Other animals walk here, children run around, cars and cyclists pass by. A barking animal is scaring off a potential threat or is simply displaying dominant behavior.

If the dog lives in a kennel, then he may really miss his owners. Loud barking attracts attention, signaling the desire to take a walk and get affection.

In front of the door

An animal barking right under the door usually responds to a knock, bell or intercom. Depending on who is standing on the threshold, it may bark with happiness, fear, or simply take a defensive position.

Without a reason

If there is no obvious reason, then the pet may be sick. With the help of barking, he tries to notify a person about his illness, while the pet will strain himself until they pay attention to him.

Another reason is a call to action. Pets are skilled manipulators, understanding that owners react differently to sounds made. If a dog barks, he may want to eat, go for a walk or play.

Unreasonable barking often occurs in older dogs who have lost their hearing. The ability to perceive sounds is distorted, so the voice is heard for no obvious reason.

The loudest breeds

There is a definite relationship between the frequency of barking and the size of the dog. As a rule, representatives of large breeds do not bark at trifles. They are confident in their abilities and react calmly to external stimuli.

Small and decorative pets are shy, so they vocalize more often. By being aggressive, they try to protect themselves from things that seem dangerous. These breeds include:

• dachshund;
• Yorkshire Terrier;
• Toy Terrier;
• fox terrier;
• Cocker Spaniel;
• chihuahua
• miniature schnauzer;
• Maltese;
• Pekingese;
• miniature poodle;
• miniature pinscher;
• toy poodle;
• beagle;
• Pomeranian Spitz.

Some large breeds are also characterized by increased “talkativeness”:

• bloodhound;
• German Shepherd;
• drathaar;
• kurtshaar;
• Sheltie;
• chow-chow;
• collie;
• Samoyed dog;
• Newfoundland.

Congenital characteristics can be corrected if you raise the dog from an early age. It is unlikely that she will grow up to be an absolute silent person, but she will definitely not bark at everyone for no reason.

Reasons why a dog may bark loudly

The means of communication with the world is the barking of a dog. All breeds and wolves understand dog barking. Communication is general and misunderstandings do not arise during the communication process. It is important to first determine the reasons why the dog barks uncontrollably and irritates everything around him. It is necessary to understand that if a dog barks loudly, this does not mean that the pet is aggressive.

If the puppy is weaned from barking loudly, the owner will soon experience success. If weaning concerns an adult, a number of problems may arise. The animal becomes completely uncontrollable, problems with obedience arise. This leads to discomfort for the owner and his neighbors.

The main factors that provoke the appearance of barking in a dog for no apparent reason, according to the owner, are:

1. Game moment - dogs, unlike cats, are not shy about showing their emotions. The owner's attention is constantly required. Dogs tend not only to be happy, but also to bark at the same time. In this way, the animal shows its attitude and emotions. Having noticed his relatives on the street, the puppy can insist on playing, actively barking, thus inviting him to take active action. This cannot be called aggression, because the animal is in a positive frame of mind.
2. Feeling of animal fear. Small puppies that do not know their strength can often experience real animal fear, hiding behind barking. The dog tries to scare away a potential source of fear from itself with the help of its vocal cords. Some people passing by a barking dog may consider it a sign of aggression. In fact, this is only a manifestation of strong fear.
3. Opportunity to attract attention. After the owner comes home after a long absence, he may receive a lot of dog love, including active dog barking. The animal requires attention, wants games or games. The pet will try to use all types of attention available to it, barking persistently, demanding that its needs be satisfied as quickly as possible.
4. Warning in the form of barking. By barking, a dog can show feelings of danger. The danger that threatens the owner or the animal itself triggers a real defense mechanism in the animal. This is real aggression, necessary to protect the pack, which the dog considers its family. In some cases, even a characteristic grin appears.
5. Lack of education. By indulging the pet's whims from a very early age, the owner begins to become dependent. Cunning creatures begin to bark whenever they want, begging for a treat or other desired action on the part of the owner. In order to prevent this, the owner needs to start teaching him how to behave correctly from the very early days of the puppy’s appearance in the house. Training should concern not only behavior in the house, but also on the street when visiting public places.

Some representatives of large breeds have natural, genetically transmitted aggression. Such dogs will not actively enter into a competition or attack without reason. This is due to the instinct of self-preservation.

Loud barking is a reason to maximize your mood, aimed at an unfriendly person. It is difficult for an animal to overcome its instincts, but in some cases a failure occurs and the animal rushes at a potential enemy.

Breeders or professional breeders, veterinary medicine specialists, as well as dog handlers, strongly recommend that behavior correction be done from a very early stage of growing up.

This will not only stop the animal from barking wherever it wants, but also not show other types of disobedience and lack of education. Classes should be conducted regularly and systematically by professionals. During training, the use of brute physical force is not allowed.

Special preparations and devices

For animals, they also produce sedatives - psychotropic drugs suppress the desire to bark at people, other animals, or just like that. It is better to buy drops or tablets that contain extracts of chamomile, valerian and other herbs.

Veterinarians do not recommend using medications on an ongoing basis - animals feel lethargic and develop physical and behavioral abnormalities.

There are collars with citronella, a plant whose stems contain essential oil. When the dog begins to bark, a fragrant cloud is sprayed around the muzzle, causing discomfort to the pet. However, this device is not without its drawbacks:

• in the fresh air, the collar is absolutely useless - the wind quickly carries away all unpleasant odors;
• the fur is saturated with a specific aroma, which is why the dog quickly gets used to it;
• animals easily realize that if they bark and move to another place, the smell will be much weaker.

This method is most often used by people who do not want to spend time training and patiently weaning their pet from barking at home.

Prohibited methods

Trying to overcome their pet's habit of barking incessantly, owners sometimes resort to radical methods. These include:

• Screams and violence - the dog will not understand what exactly the owner does not like, and, most likely, will bark even louder. If you hit a dog, it will lose trust in people.
• Surgery on the vocal cords can reduce the pitch of the voice or completely deprive the pet of the ability to bark. But this method does not solve behavioral problems. The inability to express emotions traumatizes the animal’s psyche. In many countries around the world, particularly in the UK, this method is officially prohibited.

Anti-bark collars are now gaining popularity. As soon as the pet gives a voice, the accessory shocks the animal or emits a sound wave of a certain frequency. However, the sudden physical impact causes the dog to go into shock, causing it to howl, whine, or urinate uncontrollably.

These methods only eliminate the consequences - they do not allow the pet to constantly bark, but do not in any way affect the causes of unwanted behavior.

Owner methods: reviews

Owners who managed to succeed in weaning their dogs from loud barking acted as follows:

• patiently developed obedience, rewarding the pet for correct actions;
• if the pet barked only in the absence of people, we tried to pay less attention to it half an hour before leaving and after returning home - the difference in sensations when the owners were at home and when they were not there was not so striking;
• distracted the animal with toys - the dog forgot about barking and happily indulged in entertainment.

In advanced cases, when gentle methods did not help, medications had to be used.

Household training takes from 1 to 3 months. During this time, lessons should be repeated daily, patiently correcting unwanted behavior. In most cases, once the cause of the discomfort is eliminated, dogs stop barking at everyone.