How to Quite a Barking Dog

Amber Higgins
Aug 4, 2016
3 min read

Barking Dogs

Here's a few ways to quite a barking dog. These training tips are for dogs who are barking for no reason. Always make sure the dog is not in trouble or has a reason for barking. They may smell smoke or a intruder, hear a noise you don't or see something dangerous. They may be sick, the sudden onset of pain or illness can make dogs bark,yell ,cry and yelp.

When dogs are barking outside the window I often can get them to stop by simply tapping on the window at the exact moment they bark. Why does this work ? Because it takes the dog's mind off of what it is doing,,,barking. And, the dog does not know where the noise is coming from because I'm inside and they are outside hearing tap,tap,tap. When they hear tap,tap,tap they stop barking and wait. I wait too. If they resume barking for no reason, I tap,tap,tap and they stop again.

They wait in quite and I will usually say "quite" at that moment and " good dog" out the window or go outside to say so. This distracts the dog from barking and stops the barking then praises the response when the dog is quite and reinforces the action with my approval and the dog forgets all about barking. I may have to repeat this a few times with very determined barkers. Always keep in mind not to overdo the tapping or distraction or the dog will get use to it and not respond.

A spray bottle full of water is my favorite training tool for problem dogs. If the dog is barking no stop, a short fast spray of water unexpected often stops them immediately and unless they like water i the face or to play in water, a couple sprays at the exact moment they bark will work. Do not over do it or the dog will get use to the water bottle and water. It works best as a surprise to distract the dog from what its doing.

A loud sudden noise out of the blue to a dog is like to us, " omg what is that !" A rolled up newspaper or a slap of the hand on a wall or dog crate with the spoken command of "quite" teaches the dog to stop barking when they hear the word quite by distracting them from barking and getting their attention on the noise. As soon as the dog is quite say"good dog" and praise.

These may have to be repeated 3 or 4 times the first time and if you time the distraction exactly when the dog barks the trick works but if you time the noise or water at the wrong time when the dog is not barking then the dog will have no idea what you are doing and no respond or learn.

There are other ways to teach a dog to be quite, some take longer like hushing the dog and petting them when they are quite then to stop petting when they bark again and correcting with the word no, or wait. I use this often when the dog is next to me but it's much more difficult if the dog is outside or out of reach.

Good luck !