How To Stop Your Dog Attention Barking

If you looking for a way to stop your dog attention barking’ then you’re not alone.

But here’s the thing…

While barking can sometimes be a pain in the proverbial, it’s ultimately how they communicate. So the idea that you aim should stop your dog barking completely isn’t the end goal here.

The idea, however (and your job as responsible owner) is to figure out why your dog is barking so you can effectively put measures in place to limit it.

See, figuring out how to stop your dog attention barking is one of the great triumphs of effective training.

And having your best buddy understand that there is a time and a place for permissible barking can be a true godsend.

Just imagine – no more constant interruptions when you’re trying to relax or concentrate.

No more 2-hour barking fits or 3 am wake-up calls.

If that sounds blissful to you right now, then here’s the good news.

There is in fact, a highly effective training technique that can be used by anyone to successfully train their dog to stop attention-seeking behavior.

Better still, it has nothing to do with outdated, ineffective training techniques like clicker training or shock collars (never do this by the way) and has everything to do with teaching your dog how to remain calm and in control of their emotions.

And this is why before you do anything else, I’d highly recommend checking out the Dog Calming Code from Dan Abdelnoor (aka Doggy Dan) over at The Online Dog Trainer. (see video below)

During the video, Dan goes into great detail on why emotional control is the key to solving your dogs obsessive barking habit, before revealing a few powerful calming techniques to quickly calm the emotions of your pooch, regardless of age, breed, or gender.

While it’s not an overnight fix for your dog’s obsessive barking, I think you’ll be surprised how just a few minutes each day of implementing Dan’s training will have on your dog for the better.

Anyway, here’s the video link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Dogs Obsessive, Annoying Barking Habit Using A Few Simple Calming Exercises That Take Just Minutes A Day To Implement… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!

(video will open in a new window)

Why Is My Dog Attention Barking?

In order to properly address this problem, it is important to take a step back and spend a short few moments understanding some basics about canine behavior.

Some of this may seem obvious but it is essential when it comes to differentiating between different reasons and styles of barking.

Many people wrongly assume that dogs just bark for the sake of it.

Sure, it may seem like that if you have an especially vocal breed, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Although it may not seem it, dogs understand that there is a bit of a language gap between themselves and humans.

In all likelihood, they probably think we’re a bit dumb!

But what they have figured out is that we can understand and are liable to respond to the noises they make.

This is why when you pay attention to their barking, it is possible to figure out roughly what they are wanting to make us aware of.

Basically, it just comes down to us taking the time to stop thinking all barking is annoying, and instead look at it as a useful mode of communicating with our dog.

Dogs can and usually will respond to all kinds of intrusions into their version of our personal space.

Generally, this is regarded as responsive or in more severe cases alarm barking.

Likewise, they will greet a familiar member of their pack just as they would in the wild with a greeting bark, often accompanied with a wagging tail.

Should they wish to play, then a ‘fun’ bark (yes it does exist!) will be used to indicate this.

But what do we do to distinguish between play barking and attention-seeking barking?

How To Tell If Your Dog Is Attention Barking

Dogs communicate between themselves and with humans via a number of methods.

When it comes to barking, they are vocalizing not out of habit or for the sheer sake of it, but for a specific reason.

For the sake of argument, we’ll narrow this down to five specific and easily identifiable styles:

Alarm Barking

A very quick string of typically between 2-4 barks followed by a pause.

Your dog is announcing to the rest of the pack that something happening urgently needs to be looked into.

Defensive Barking

Continuous but lower pitch and noticeably slower.

In this case, your dog is basically saying that the enemy is at the gates and its time to prepare to fight.

Happy Greeting

One or two barks at a medium/high pitch.

Imagine a happy human opening the door and going in a semi-comic form “Hello”! and that’s what this means in dog language.

Playtime!

The classic low tone “ruff-ruff” and usually accompanied by the dog resting on all fours with their hind up and ready to pounce.

So far so good – but what about attention-seeking barking?

Anyone who has experienced a dog suffering from separation anxiety will be familiar with the rather unique style associated with it.

Generally speaking, it is identical as that for attention-seeking, as the dog is basically saying “hey what about me!”, over and over again.

Attention seeking barking is basically a long series – sometimes endless single line of mid-range barks with a regular gap in between.

For example, it could go Bark… (three seconds) Bark… (three seconds) and so on.

Many people associate louder and more frantic barking as being synonymous with attention-seeking.

But that is not typically the case.

Yes, it does want to make you aware of something, but it is not seeking attention for itself.

This is the clear distinction between alert and attention barking and one that makes all the difference when identifying this issue.

How To Stop You Dog Attention Barking

Now we are certain that Fido is using his barks to summon our attention, let’s take a look into how we can convince him to give it a break.

There are a couple of factors to be aware of before starting remedial training.

The first and without a doubt the most important is to accept and be aware that the problem may become worse before it gets better.

In order for these techniques to be successful, your dog needs to be ‘reprogrammed’ for a better word to understand that appropriate behavior (not barking) equates to reward.

How long this takes is really a matter of consistency and under no circumstances should training be interrupted even once.

So brief all members of the household (and their guests) how to respond to attention-seeking barking.

The better this principle is observed, then the sooner you’ll start to see some real progress!

Method One – Ignorance Is Bliss

For this first technique, the objective is to simply ignore any barking for attention…

…Full stop.

No matter what, the whole basis of this being successful is the consistent adherence to that basic principle.

Do be aware that it can be much more difficult to follow than it sounds – especially for owners who love to dote on their dogs.

#1 – Ignore Your Dog

When the dog decides to interrupt you with attention-seeking barking, simply turn away from them and carry on with whatever you are doing.

Try as best as possible to absolutely ignore them.

Even making eye contact counts from a dog’s perspective as interaction.

Be patient and continue to give them no acknowledgment whatsoever, even if they start pawing at you and they will eventually stop.

#2 – Give Affection

A couple of seconds after you are sure that they have stopped, turn around, and give them affection and treats.

The absolute key is to ride out the barking storm.

You must be sure that they have stopped on purpose, otherwise, your dog will think to itself “aha – so I need to bark for twenty minutes for treats. OK then!”.

For houses with multiple occupants, it is essential that everyone does the same as there’s a good chance he’ll try to get attention from others.

Needless to say, this method works best when only one person is home.

#3 – Increase Timing

Once they have been given treats and affection, you’ll need to get back to whatever you were busy with.

Chances are that very soon they’ll be back barking for more attention.

Repeat the above but increase the time between when they have stopped until reward.

Ideally, this may work from 5, 10, 15 minutes, and so on but adapt this to however you see fit.

All that matters is gradually reinforcing the understanding that being silent brings rewards, so it’s better to hold their breath.

This technique is simple to perform but may take any number of repeats before the dog finally figures out the message.

Some will ‘get it’ and behave after just a few days, others may require months of repeat training. Just remember that keyword – consistency.

Barking Driving You Crazy? Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Dogs Obsessive, Annoying Barking Habit Using A Few Simple Calming Exercises That Take Just Minutes A Day To Implement… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!

Method Two – Voice Command

Have you ever wondered how certain dog owners can simply tell their dogs to be ‘quiet’ and they will immediately fall into line?

Well, this is the technique that they will probably have used.

You may wish to consider this as the next step up from the above method, as it can be useful for silencing excitable dogs.

Just remember that dogs bark for all kinds of reasons, so only use this when it’s absolutely necessary as no dog wants a disciplinarian pack leader!

#1 – Be Boring

Do something sedentary and boring for the dog – reading or watching TV are good options.

The idea is to induce attention-seeking barking.

So once they start, just ignore them as above.

#2 – Get Vocal

When they have stopped barking it is time for you to get vocal. Decide on your word – “quiet” tends to be popular but you can choose whatever you like, and give them a treat.

Try to say the word in a strict tone but not too loud.

You want to make it clear that it is a command addressed towards them but not one criticizing or scolding.

It’s easier said than done, so you may want to practice this before starting training. It needs to be consistent!

#3 – Taking It One Step Further

Once your dog realizes that he’ll receive a command and treat when he eventually stops barking, you should then introduce this same method while your dog is barking.

Once the dog has barked, give the command just once.

If it stops, then reward with a treat.

If not, then just ignore him and wait again for them to stop.

The key is to make them realize that your word is a command and that good stuff (attention/treats) will follow if they stop barking.

#4 – Be Consistent

Consistently continue to tell them to stop the moment they bark.

And when they do, simply give them a reward.

Every dog will realize eventually that just staying silent altogether leads to treats.

Over time it will become second nature.

So in the meantime just keep your cool and good things will eventually happen.

Along with other commands such as “Sit” or “Stay”, “Silent”/”Stop” or whatever command you have chosen is a key factor in developing the future obedience training of your dog.

When a dog becomes used to understanding what your commands mean (and those good things are on hand for good behavior) they will become much quicker learners.

Final Thoughts

Irritating as attention-seeking behavior may be, it is important to also be aware that dogs may actually have a serious concern.

Very few deliberately seek to rile up their pack leader (you).

So before you jump to conclusions, take a look at the level of exercise and variety that your dog currently experiences.

And if necessary, try to add a little variety to their routine occasionally so they can enjoy a different set of sights and senses.

Establish set playtimes so that your dog becomes familiar with the fact that walkies are coming and that whining will not make them come any sooner.

And above all else, maintain the role of being an effective pack leader.

Be firm yet fair, and never lose your cool regardless of how frustrating it may be.

And just remember, attention-seeking barking can be remedied, and doing so is one of the best training achievements possible for young dogs.

Get this right and the potential for further development really has no limit.

Do you have any other training tips on how to stop a dog attention barking? Feel free to add your stories and comments below.