How can I stop my dog from barking?

The first step it is to determine the type of bark your dog is expressing. The following questions can help you:

• When and where does the barking occur?
• Who or what is the target of the barking?
• What things (objects, sounds, animals or people) trigger the barking?

Depending on why your dog is barking, you may need to:

• Take your dog to a veterinarian if it is sick or injured.. Rule out medical reasons before trying to modify a dog’s behaviour.
• Take the dog on more frequent walks (once or twice daily) and include it on family outings, so it can explore the outside world more.
• Provide the dog with toys and puzzles, and play tricks with it to enhance mental stimulation and reduce boredom.
• Try counterconditioning if your dog has separation anxiety. Counterconditioning is a treatment process that changes an animal’s fearful, anxious or aggressive reaction to a pleasant, relaxed one. Talk to your vet, animal behaviouralist or trainer for more information.
• Remove or avoid the cause of fear, for example - reduce the volume of television. If it is unavoidable, counterconditioning might help desensitising the cause of fear.
• Block the view with solid fencing, shade cloth or hedging if the dog is barking at passers-by or other animals, or move the dog to another part of the yard. Alternatively, if the source of provocation is a human (for example, children teasing the dog), try to discuss the problem with them. 
• Make sure you do not reward your dog for barking too much. Don’t let the dog inside or give it attention when it barks. Instead, give the dog attention when it is quiet.
• If the dog is barking at people or noises on the other side of a fence, move the dog to another part of the yard, or put up a barrier to keep the dog away from that area.
• Keep your dog inside or in an enclosed area at certain times if it barks at regular disturbances such as children walking to school or at rubbish trucks 
• Ensure your dog has adequate exercise, is not bored and has play time with you.
• Put barriers or obstacles in your dog’s way to slow it down if it races along a path or fence barking at passing distractions.
• Make sure your dog has food, water and shelter from the weather.
• Teach the dog to stop barking. When the dog is barking, give a firm command such as ‘cease’ and call the dog to you. Praise the dog when it stops barking.
• Attend accredited dog obedience training

Dogs bark for many reasons and if these simple tips do not help then you should seek further advice and help.

Dog obedience

This is generally followed by expanded exercises to include stay, recall and stand for examination. Socialisation with other dogs and people is important and this is heavily emphasised.

As the dogs and handlers progress through the classes, the exercises are refined so that eventually a dog responds to its handler’s commands whether on or off-lead

Dog obedience and regular training can provide mental and physical stimulation and help prevent ‘boredom’ barking

Please see a sample of a Responsible Dog Ownership (Agriculture Victoria website)