Barking is very normal behaviour for dogs and puppies, but that doesn’t exactly make it nice.
Training puppies out of constantly barking is key, both for your sake and the sake of your neighbours.
That’s why Lorna Winter, director of the UK Dog Behaviour and Training Charter and co-founder and head of training at Zigzag, has shared her tips on how to get your pup out of that noisy habit.INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Man’s best friend? Petting a dog and gazing into their eyes releases oxytocin (i.e the “love hormone”) not only for you, but for them as well.
Don’t punish them
Don’t tell your puppy off for doing something that comes so naturally to them – they don’t know it’s naughty after all.
‘Don’t punish barking as it is one of the limited means of communication your puppy has with you and the world,’ says Lorna.
Reward quiet periods
Instead, opt for positive reinforcement over negative.
‘Heavily reward periods of quiet behaviour,’ says Lorna, ‘especially with more vocal pups.’
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Nearly 80 million U.S. households have a pet, and 42 percent of those households have more than one, according to a 2015-2016 survey by the APPA. There are 77.8 million pet dogs in the U.S. and 85.8 million pet cats.
Check they’re not bored
Your pup might be feeling vocal because they’re under-stimulated.
‘Barking is very often a symptom of boredom and frustration, says Lorna.
‘So try to figure out what it is your puppy is needing.’
Teach ‘speak’ and ‘quiet’ commands
You can also try to channel the barking into something constructive like specific commands.
Lorna explains: ‘Teach “speak” and “quiet” on cue, so you have some control over barking.’
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), pet owners in the United States spent $60.28 billion on their furry friends in 2015. That number is expected to rise by more than $2 billion in 2016.
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