Read About Dog's Excessive Barking

So, your doggie´s barking a lot. There are many reasons for excessive barking -- here´s a few to consider:

1. Bored barking -- barking is self-rewarding and interesting in itself. Your dog probably needs more to do. More walks, new toys, maybe you two could go play at an agility class. Frankly, he´s a dog. Give him stuff to do, and he won´t bark to amuse himself.

2. Territorial barking -- mine mine mine mine mine mine! not yours! People, squirrels, other dogs -- anything´s a peril to the constant territorial barker. Further, the barking gets reinforced for the pup when barking "succeeds" -- the mailman goes away or the other dog is led off on their leash. The way to cope with this is in line with other barking:
   1. Praise the dog for pointing out the "problem"

   2. Look around, and show that you (the top dog) have investigated the problem

   3. Make the reassuring noise that your dog is accustomed to (e.g., "Thanks, Rover. It´s okay now.")
3. Fear barking is in reaction to a perceived source of danger to your dog or his "pack." This often will not stop until the danger is not present.

Remember is that you don´t want your dog to never bark -- if there is something that is legitimately unusual, we do want our dogs to let us know! If your dog or puppy knows that you will pay attention to normal barks, but not accept disproportionate barking, it´s reassuring to them. They know where they fit in the household, and they know that you are not ignoring them or leaving them to defend everything. Do not expect your dog to not bark. This is unrealistic, and will make both of your crazy. Rather, you can work with your dog to curb excessive barking. As mentioned above, a particularly good technique is praising the "notification," and then rewarding subsequent silence. It will take time and patience, but the most entrenched "over-barker" can be re-trained.