If you’re desparately trying to stop your puppy barking at other dogs with no success, then this is the most important page you’re ever going to read.
Now, let me just start by saying that all puppies bark to some extent. It’s ultimately how they communicate so the idea that you need to stop your pup barking completely isn’t the point of this post.
Instead, the idea is encourage the right kind of barking, while teaching your pup to reign in the noise when the occassion doesn’t really call for it.
The first step? …figuring out why it’s happening.
See, puppies can bark for dozens of reasons, and while most forms of barking are innocent enough (when they’re playing or excited to see you for instance), other times it can be the start of a more serious behavior issue which can soon escalate beyond what’s considered normal puppy behavior.
But if you can ultimately figure out why it’s happening (fear, anxiety, ect), you’ll be in a much better position put measures in place to stop it from happening.
The second step? …teach your puppy how to control their emotions.
It might not sound obvious, but the key with dealing with ANY behavioral issue isn’t neccessarily more training. In fact most behavioral issues (regardless of how bad you think they are) can quickly be overcome by teaching your pup how to remain calm and in control their emotions.
And this is why before you do anything else, I’d highly recommend taking a few minutes to check out the Dog Calming Code from Dan Abdelnoor over at The Onilne Dog Trainer. (see video below)
During the video, Dan discusses why emotional control is the key to reigning in your pups frustrating barking habit (among other things) before revealing a powerful training technique that will teach them how to dial down their emotions in any situation that usually triggers it. (i.e. barking at other dogs)
Watch the video, apply the training Dan recommends, and you’ll be surprised at how calm and responsive your puppy will become in the presence of other dogs.
Here’s the link to take a look: Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Puppy’s Obsessive, Unwanted Barking By Implement A Powerful Training Technique That Takes Just Minutes To Implement… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
(video will open in a new window)
Imagine This…
You’ve recently bought a brand new puppy and you’re helping him get adjusted to living in his new home.
And while overall he is a good little one, he is often barking at other dogs when you take him out for his morning walk.
As you begin to get acquainted with your furry new friend, you begin to question your training methods and often wonder if you are doing something wrong to make him act this way.
You are now buying him a different type of dog food, giving him more to drink on a daily basis and have even resorted to taking him to a different park to see if the new environment works better for him.
But all to no avail.
So then you ask yourself, what is making my puppy bark so much at other dogs?
Well, one of the best ways to determine a solution to this problem is to speak with a professional dog trainer.
A trained professional can help you understand the dynamics of owning a new puppy.
After all, your puppy is still getting adjusted to you and you are still getting accustomed to him.
You are both like strangers who are in the middle of building a strong compatible relationship that will be effective for years to come.
So if your puppy is barking at other dogs, this post will help you discover how to put an end to this annoying habit once and for all.
Why Is My Puppy Barking at Other Dogs?
Puppies are just like newborn babies in the sense that they are familiarizing themselves with the world around them.
A puppy is often found exploring his new surroundings to see what it has to offer.
Barking at other dogs could be a puppies way of letting the other older dogs know that he is there too.
Or it may be his way of asserting himself and learning how to control a certain situation and environment around him.
But as you begin to train your puppy, and he becomes more comfortable in his new environment, you may find that the barking subsides on its own.
Fear
Your puppy could also be barking at other dogs if he feels threatened.
Depending on how old your puppy is he’ll often find himself in new and unfamiliar situations which can sometimes cause him to act out of character if he feels there is a potential danger.
The barking at other dogs may be his way of letting the other dogs know that “I can do what you can as well”.
This will make him feel more normal in a peculiar area around a new set of dogs that he does not know.
Related Post: What To Do If Your Puppy Barks For Attention – How To Quiet A Noisy Pup
Attention
Puppies barking at other dogs may also be his way of seeking attention.
Let’s face it, everything is new to a puppy and he is often unsure of himself in a big world filled with lots of things that he knows nothing about.
The barking causes other dogs to notice him and possibly offer help if he needs it.
Puppies love attention from small children or anyone who is around to hug and pat him on the forehead.
So when another dog comes into a puppies territory, he may bark at him to tell the other dog to leave.
Puppies can become very territorial very quickly and this is their way of protecting their family.
In this case, barking is used as a warning so to speak to alert other passing dogs to stay away.
Why Do Puppies Bark?
- Puppies can bark for many reasons at any given time.
- When you take your puppy into the neighborhood for a daily walk.
- If you take him along in the car and he puts his head out the window and barks at passing cars.
- As you visit a hotel that accepts animals and he is barking throughout the night because he is in an unfamiliar place.
- In the park where there are different dogs of all different breeds and many that are much larger than him.
- When a guest visits your home with their own dog and he wants to jump all over them.
- If he gets excited about any given situation at any given time and when there are other children playing catch with their dogs and he wants to get attention from them.
You get the idea…
These are just some of the many different scenarios that can come into play when your puppy barks at other dogs.
And, while there are many others, these will give you an idea of how often your puppy can come into contact with other dogs throughout the day.
This may be cute for a short period of time, but after a few hours, a few days and even a few weeks it can quickly become irritating.
It’s difficult but you should always keep in mind that your puppy is learning his new surroundings and that you should do is punish him for being curious.
With each new adventure, your puppy will bring a different sense of being curious, which at times, can bring out the need to start barking at other dogs.
Puppy Driving You Crazy? Click Here To Discover How To Finally Stop Your Puppy’s Obsessive, Unwanted Barking By Implement A Powerful Training Technique That Takes Just Minutes To Implement… Even If You’ve Tried & Failed Before!
How to Stop Your Puppy Barking At Other Dogs
Be Caring
Embracing your puppy with a lot of love and care is one of the most important things in making him feel secure.
Your puppy may be afraid of this brand new world that he is now born into.
If you’re consistently there to simply hug, pat and spend quality time with him, he’ll quickly learn that he has a special place in your heart.
When a puppy feels cared for, he will be calmer and not seek the attention that he is already being given.
A secure puppy is a happier and more peaceful puppy that will be less likely to seek attention from other dogs because he already gets it at home.
Be Observant
Another thing to do is to be observant about the size and breed of dogs that your puppy is barking at.
Your puppy may be more sensitive to dogs that are larger than him or a particular breed of dog.
In this case, it would be best to limit your dog’s interaction with these types of dogs.
At least until he grows and becomes more confident.
And while this may seem extreme, avoiding larger dogs or certain breeds of dog, might be the best solution until you get your puppy properly trained.
Be Cool And Calm
Keeping your puppy away from aggressive dogs is another great way to keep him from barking.
When your puppy sees a dog who already has aggressive energy, he is likely to follow suit and become aggressive as well.
While this may be difficult to do, try to stay away from dogs that are already exhibiting aggressive behaviors that could bark back at your puppy and/or attack.
Desensitize And Familiarize
Desensitization is great for slowly introducing your puppy to a certain environment that he may not be familiar with.
To give you an example…
Let’s say you’ve noticed that your puppy begins to bark excessively every time you walk by a particular dog park.
You know that there’s no immediate threat but your puppy seems to think otherwise.
So instead of just riding it out and letting your puppy bark himself into a frenzy like you normally would.
Just keep a close eye on him and wait for the precise moment he begins to start yapping away.
When he starts up, simply stand still, turn around and begin to walk in the opposite direction until your puppy stops barking.
When he does give him a few minutes to calm down before trying again to walk past the dog park.
It may take a little time but if you continue the process over and over, your puppy will slowly become desensitized to his surrounding and in time, he’ll be able to walk on by without any problem.
A great little trick I’ve discovered to help speed up this process is to give your puppy some sort of distraction whenever he becomes prone to barking.
Giving him a ball or even stick to hold while your passing by is sometimes all he needs to divert his attention long enough so that he doesn’t feel the need to unleash the barking beast within.
Obedience Training
Obedience training is another great way to stop your puppy from barking at other dogs.
Your puppy must learn that it is okay for other dogs to approach him or that he can be near them without feeling threatened.
He will learn that his barking may only aggravate the situation by making the other dogs more aggressive towards him, the family, and everyone else he has come to love.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the ideas that will help you understand why your puppy barks at other dogs and how to resolve this issue.
Remember that your puppy is discovering a brand new world and does not yet know how to effectively communicate with other dogs.
Also, keep in mind that your puppy may be seeking attention from other dogs that he may want to get to know.
He may also want to assert himself to let other dogs know that he is capable of doing what they do, or he may just be afraid of the size of the other dogs which leaves him feeling less than and unworthy of being around them.
But by reading this post I really hope you’ve learned at least one small nugget of information that will help stop your puppy barking at other dogs
And I also hope you’ve learned just how important it is to show love and affection towards your puppy to help him feel secure in his environment and home.
Once you understand the reason why your puppy barks at other dogs, you’ll then be able to determine the best way to help your puppy in finding a solution for his constant barking behavior and eliminating it once and for all.
Your family will thank you, your neighbors will thank you and you will have a happier, calmer more peaceful puppy that is easier to live with.
Any thoughts on how to stop a puppy barking at other dogs? Let me know in the comments below…
