Stop German Shepherd Barking – How to Deal With Excessive Barking
German Shepherds are one of the most lovable dogs on the planet. They are intelligent, loyal, and affectionate. It is no wonder then that many people choose to have a German Shepherd as a pet. Unfortunately, many owners of German Shepherds experience excessive barking, which can be very annoying for everyone involved. If you are one of these owners, then read on.
One thing you should always try to do when your dog is barking excessively is to take it to the vet. The vet can examine your dog and look for possible health concerns such as allergies, tumors, mites, fleas, or some other issues. If you find any problems, he may recommend an anti-bark collar to help curb the excessive barking. Although these collars are great at stopping your dog from barking altogether, they do not teach your dog body language, control, nor do they teach it when it is appropriate to bark and when it is not.
What you want to teach your dog is to understand that it is not okay to bark unnecessarily, but that it is okay to be aware of its actions.
The best way to accomplish this task is through positive reinforcement. You should try to reward your dog when it is doing as it is supposed to do. This may be as simple as giving them a doggy treat every time they behave correctly. You may also want to shower your dog with kibble to reinforce their behavior. Each time they exhibit the correct behavior such as sitting, walking, or down, give them a treat.
You must learn what is expected of your dog as a member of the family. One thing you should teach your German Shepherd is not to greet other dogs or people with its mouth open. This is often viewed as a sign of aggression and is frowned upon. Your German Shepherd should always be on a leash and should never be allowed to run free. If it begins to do so, scold it with a loud noise or take it outside immediately. This method will teach it that it is not acceptable to greet other dogs or people.
The third thing you can teach your German Shepherd is not to startle people or animals when there is no immediate threat present. This is often referred to as ‘cute’ behavior because many puppies or adult German Shepherds like to bark. They have a very high prey drive and will bark to alert their owners of potential danger. The problem arises when it is perceived that there is no real danger. This is where the training begins, by using positive reinforcement and rewarding your dog for quiet behavior.
During your puppy training, you must control the environment that your German Shepherd will live in.
A good start would be to use a training collar for the first few days and gradually increase the severity of the shock. The collar freeze method that you can use to teach your German Shepherd not to bark while on fire or is also very effective. Before attempting this method, you must consult a professional German Shepherd specialist to be certain that this training method will be appropriate.
Once your German Shepherd has learned not to bark when there is no real danger present, you will need to continue to reinforce this with praise, treats, and constant attention and patience. You do not want your dog to feel that excessive barking is normal. It is something that must be stopped immediately if you want to prevent him from feeling threatened. You should never scold your dog for barking unless it becomes overly aggressive.
When training, remember to stay firm and consistent. Use one command and then give verbal praise or treat response to your dog each time it does the right thing. Try to develop a positive relationship with your German Shepherd puppy. He will learn his body language and your voice when you are training. Be patient and make sure that you understand your dog’s body language before yelling at it when he barks.
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