Puppy Barking is Puppy Communication
Canines bark, so a puppy barking is a completely normal phenomenon. It is normal that puppies bark, whine, and at times howl, just like it is normal for birds to sing. If you are one devoted dog owner, you’ll know you will experience barking, whining and howling at any time. It would be totally impossible and unfair to wish to train your puppy to stop barking at all. It is best for all, including your dog, if the barking can be controlled.
Why Dogs Start Barking
Dogs who are confined or alone a lot without exercise store up energy and need an outlet for it. A dog who is alone all day is more likely to take up barking as a hobby because there is nobody to control him and make him stop. Pretty soon, barking will become an enjoyable habit for him or her. Many dogs, once they start barking, do it because they think it’s fun and enjoyable.
You may have trained your dog to bark too much by accident. You always obey when you hear your dog speak. “Woof” and you open the door to let them out, another “woof” and you open it again to let them in. A puppy quickly learns that barking earns him a snack; they bark and they get rewarded. A puppy gets attention from you by barking. For this reason, it is easy for barking to become a habit. After all, the puppy wants your attention, and if he barks, he gets your attention. And sometimes, it is very easy to forget to provide positive reinforcement such as praises and treats for your dog when they are not barking.
Exercises and Puppy Barking
To minimize puppy barking and for you to get some peace and quiet, you have to realize that most of the time; puppy barking is really due to the boredom, loneliness, frustration and fright that your puppy feels. These entire situations can be eased and improved when you spend more time with your puppy. A well-exercised, happy, and contented puppy is more likely to spend the whole day sleeping when you are not home. Be sure to give your dog some of your time. He needs your attention and the benefit of training, exercise, and play.
Puppy obedience training is just as boring mentally for dogs as it is for their owners. Most puppies and dogs enjoy, wild rapid paced and exciting games such as “come here,” “sit,” “stay,” “heel,” but you can make it more rewarding by saying come here for a hug, a massage and other praise and treats. Don’t let your puppy get bored with training.
For dogs living in the backyard for the majority of the time, they probably need some “social” exercises. To keep the puppy barking to a minimum, it may be necessary to take them on a walk. Daily walks will be an adventure for them to investigate and find out about those sounds and smells that excite them while they are in the yard. Running around the yard like a crazy dog is a normal thing for a dog or puppy to do, but it does not count as puppy exercise. What they are doing is equivalent to the human’s pacing and fidgeting as well as other nervous activities. Give your puppies fun things to play with and occupy themselves with such as chew toys for puppy biting and a digging pit for dogs.
Dogs, like humans, are naturally social animals. Like humans, they also seek friends and companions. Your dog needs to be taken for walks and exercised every day or every week as well as to let them socialize with other dogs. Romping, playing, and dog training together all day will tire them out easily and will help them sleep happily while recovering from the hard play and great exercise session.
