The 3 Main Types of Barking and What to Do About Them

Bear these points in mind when dealing with the 3 bark types.

Do not shout at your dog because it will think that you are simply sharing its excitement.
It is best to ignore its barking for as long as you can and instead to accustom the dog to the events that wind it up.
Initiate some obedience training to impose limits on the dog’s behaviour on the occasions when it would normally bark. So if, for example, your dog scares the postman by barking ferociously every time that he approaches the house, train your dog to sit quietly during his daily visit. You could also incorporate a command that allows it to bark when you want it to, such as when visitors arrive.
Remember that because altering this type of behaviour is unlikely to succeed overnight, you’ll need to persevere. With time and patience, however, it is possible to train a dog to bark on command or under specific conditions.

The ‘Guarding’ Bark

Dogs that bark as a result of guarding behaviour usually stop as soon as the ‘threat’ to their territory has disappeared (unlike excited dogs, which continue to bark).
Some dogs ‘guard’ the house because they are unsure about who controls the arrival of visitors. In such cases, it is important to teach your dog that you are in charge (although its guarding behaviour will probably continue when you are away and it has been left at home).
Owners of dominant dogs like this must exert their control as ‘pack leader’ by imposing firm obedience training on their pets.
Teach your dog to earn your attention by obeying a command, for example, but ignore it if it tries to demand it.

The ‘Attention Seeking’ Bark

Attention-seeking dogs bark to attract notice and then stop as soon as someone approaches them (this behaviour is often learnt as a puppy).

It can be exceptionally annoying if your dog barks while you are on the phone or talking to someone, behaviour that is simply the result of your dog feeling left out.
Cure this problem by ignoring your dog’s methods of attention- seeking, such as barking, nudging your hand or dropping toys expectantly at your feet.
Tell it to sit and ask before you stroke it and give it all of your attention – it will need periods when it has your undivided attention, so play games and carry out training exercises for at least an hour a day.

The ‘Separation Anxiety’ Bark

Dogs that bark due to separation anxiety are often very attached to their owners and find being alone highly stressful. If this is the case, make sure that your dog has been well exercised before leaving it and train it to become used to spending time alone.

Teach it to obey the ‘Quiet!’ command and then leave it in a room for a couple of minutes. If the dog begins barking, make a loud noise to startle it and then return to the room and praise it when it is quiet before leaving again.
You will probably have to repeat this exercise several times, but once your dog has become accustomed to the idea of being quiet, build up the length of time that it is left alone. It also helps to give it a toy with your scent on it.