German Shepherd Obedience Training

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Your dog may begin to bark when a stranger approaches or if your house is on fire. Dogs that are in pain or frightened will also bark. A dog may bark to intimidate you or your family members, or as a way to get your attention.

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Whatever the reason, we all agree that it can be very annoying and look for ways to stop dogs barking. Some owners of dogs that constantly bark are reported for disturbing the peace. I’m happy to report that there are several ways to stop your dog from barking without a reason.

To stop your dog from barking, he should be trained to understand when barking is appropriate. A number of options are available, the best being the reward/reprimand technique. This method is both humane and effective.

As an alternative to this method of training, some dog owners choose to use an electronic collar, also known as a bark collar. When a dog barks, the collar around his neck is activated. When the bark collar gives off a small electronic shock, the dog is taken by surprise. Once dogs begin to associate pain with their barking, they will stop barking. I believe that electronic collars are an inhumane method to stop dogs from barking.

Not all dogs realize that the uncomfortable shock is directly related to their barking; electronic collars should not be used for this reason and many others. They become accustomed to the electronic shocks and keep on barking. In addition, if the prongs on the collar do not touch the skin of a dog with a thick coat, he will probably not feel the electric shock. As well, there are few examples where simply using an electronic collar will stop dog barking. Including obedience training will usually give the most effective results.

An electronic collar that is set to the correct shock level shouldn’t harm a dog, however many people believe that they can still be dispiriting to dogs. Because of this, some people use citronella collars which operate in a similar way to electronic collars. When the dog barks, a mist is produced from the Citronella collar. Most dogs hate the smell. Gradually, dogs begin to connect the foul aroma with their barking and stop barking so they don’t have to suffer the smell. They are probably just about as successful as electronic collars.

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If used correctly, electronic collars can be useful training tools, however most vets and dog trainers agree that they are no replacement for quality dog obedience training. Obedience training is effective for most dog behavior problems, not just dog barking. It also helps with other dog behavior problems.

Surgery to stop dog barking is a drastic and, in my opinion, barbaric option. A piece of tissue is removed from the larynx which prevents the dog from barking. Occasionally, a dog’s bark will come back, making the surgery useless. Happily, the majority of vets are against surgery as a way to stop dogs from barking.

In closing, I hope we have managed to convince you that the most effective way to stop dogs barking is with good quality obedience training. If you use a shock collar to stop dogs barking, you will also not be woken up when a burglar enters your home. By providing your dog with good obedience training, he will protect you and your family but he will also understand when barking is appropriate.

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