Why is it that dogs bark when they don't in the wild. Wolves don't bark as it is not in their nature. So one reason dogs bark is that we have domesticated them to do so. We developed herding dogs to scare off predators and notify their masters that there is danger around them.
Due to our domestication of our dogs, the dogs bark to get attention. They also bark to show their excitement. Repeated behavior is caused by reinforcement with training and lifestyle. So teaching dogs to communicate is dependent on the reward given. If you reward your dog when it barks it will continue to do so. It is important to figure out what your dog is trying to tell you before you reward your dog and then act appropriately at the time of the barking.
If your dog is excessively barking, try to figure out what he is trying to say. If it is to get attention, your or others, the way to break this habit is to wait for him to be quiet before you give him the attention your dog wants. By acknowledging the barking when your dog is barking you will reinforce the barking. If you wait he will change his habit.
Some dogs are extremely territorial. They will bark at not only a person approaching, but someone they see walking across the street or on the next block. The best way to stop this is to distract him when he starts to bark. Catch his attention with a treat or by playing. Every time the bark cycle is broken, it sends the message that quiet will get the most reward.
Ultimately it is important to learn why your dog is barking. Once you know what your dog is barking about, then you can redirect, refocus or reward your dog for his barking. It's up to you to take the appropriate action depending on the situation.
Due to our domestication of our dogs, the dogs bark to get attention. They also bark to show their excitement. Repeated behavior is caused by reinforcement with training and lifestyle. So teaching dogs to communicate is dependent on the reward given. If you reward your dog when it barks it will continue to do so. It is important to figure out what your dog is trying to tell you before you reward your dog and then act appropriately at the time of the barking.
If your dog is excessively barking, try to figure out what he is trying to say. If it is to get attention, your or others, the way to break this habit is to wait for him to be quiet before you give him the attention your dog wants. By acknowledging the barking when your dog is barking you will reinforce the barking. If you wait he will change his habit.
Some dogs are extremely territorial. They will bark at not only a person approaching, but someone they see walking across the street or on the next block. The best way to stop this is to distract him when he starts to bark. Catch his attention with a treat or by playing. Every time the bark cycle is broken, it sends the message that quiet will get the most reward.
Ultimately it is important to learn why your dog is barking. Once you know what your dog is barking about, then you can redirect, refocus or reward your dog for his barking. It's up to you to take the appropriate action depending on the situation.
About the Author:
Get more Dog Potty Training Tips and ideas on Dog training at Colleen Tess Dog Training Academy for K9.
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