Why do dogs bark?
Dogs bark for many reasons & it's important to understand that this is a normal
part of their behaviour. Barking is a natural way of communicating to other dogs that they are encroaching on the dog’s territory. Dogs can also bark when they are stimulated, nervous, in need of attention, or just bored. You may not be aware of your dog barking if you are away for much of the day at work and it may be your neighbour who draws this to your attention. It is important to rectify this problem as soon as you are aware of your dog's barking, as fines can be enforced if the barking continues and this certainly is not conducive to a good relationship with your neighbours!
Training to stop your dog from nuisance barking
If you own a dog that barks excessively it can be difficult to find out what the cause is. There are numerous reasons that dogs bark and it is important to remember that some of these causes are instinctive to your dog such as barking at a trespasser.
Here are a couple of training tips that you could apply.
- If your dog is barking at people passing by your house, you could try to block off the dog’s vision to this by planting a hedge to screen off the front of your property or by keeping the dog inside or in the backyard only. In other words, limit the stimulus that causes the dog to bark.
- If you find your dog is barking as an attention-seeking exercise, avoid quietening the dog by giving them food. This is only rewarding the dog for barking! Use a command such as “no” instead and reward the dog when they do the right thing.
- Socialising your dog is important for many reasons and this can help with dogs that bark at anything and everything! By socialising your dog, you are acclimatising them to the things that may once have stimulated them to bark. This may involve a trip to the park where there are other dogs, people on bikes, or children kicking a ball.
- If you have a young dog, take them to puppy preschool & enrol in an obedience class. If your dog is suffering from anxiety barking and the most obvious indication of this is that they bark only when you are away.
- You should also consider visiting your vet, as there are also some medical reasons for constant barking.
How do I stop excessive barking in my dog?
Finally, for those of you who are ready to give up on your nuisance barking dog, 
there is a stop bark collar that your dog can wear that will release a spray of citronella every time they bark. Your dog hears it, sees it, feels it, and smells it! At the first spray of citronella, your dog's natural curiosity will be to seek the origin of the new odour. Many dogs find the smell of citronella unpleasant and the dog will very quickly learn that when he or she barks, the anti-barking collar sprays under their snout! Through this harmless conditioned reflex, this collar is an effective method of discouraging your dog from barking. In a few days, the dog learns to keep quiet while wearing the collar and will concentrate on normal activities. No more trouble with the neighbours!