How To Stop Barking
Barking drives a lot of people crazy, so what can you do to stop it?
First of all, make sure that your dog is well-socialized. A well-socialized dog is less likely to bark at harmless things and people.
Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. Maybe your dog is just trying to let you know that he's been inside too long and you owe him a some play time. A lot of barking can be solved by taking your dog out and letting him get good and tired playing with you or another dog.
Make sure your dog has plenty of mental stimulation. You know, it's not much fun to be left at home all day with nothing to do. Does your dog have some fun toys? Does he have some toys and things which keep him busy during the day? Buster Cubes and Kongs -- the kind of toys that you can stuff treats into and dogs have to work to get them out -- can keep your dog busy and give him something to do while you're gone. They also help cut down on nuisance barking when you're not home.
If your dog is still barking when you've done these things you need to find out why your dog is barking.
Remember that some barking is good. If someone is breaking into your home, you want your dog to bark. You should reward appropriate barking so your dog knows the difference between good barking and bad barking.
If your dog is barking to get attention, unfortunately, you need to ignore this behavior so your dog doesn't get the attention he's seeking. This can try anyone's patience, but it's necessary. He may bark for quite a while, but he will eventually stop.
If your dog barks when he's outside, you need to give him the command to be quiet. If he continues to bark, bring him indoors for a time-out. You may even crate him for emphasis. Most dogs will shut up once they learn that they will have to come inside if they don't stop barking.
Dogs bark for lots of different reasons. The key is to discover why your dog is barking and figure out what to do about it. What benefit (positive reinforcement) is your dog getting from barking, and what can you do to change it.