If you're like most people, the sound of a barking dog will drive you nuts. Did you know that incessant loud barking is one of the most annoying and stressful noises for humans? If your dog engages in excessive barking, here are five tips that can help stop a barking dog.

Choose Your Dog Breed Carefully To Avoid Problem Barking

The working breeds of dogs, including cattle dogs, border collies, and German shepherds, need jobs to do, or they'll get bored and frustrated. And boredom and frustration in dogs leads to barking problems. Before you adopt a dog, do your homework so you can find the best dog for your situation.

If you live on a farm and need help herding animals, a border collie may be a great help. The same dog can cause untold problems in a suburban yard. Choose your new pet carefully.

Excessive Barking Is A Way To Use Energy

Dogs are high maintenance animals. This is something else to consider before you adopt one. Did you know that dogs require around an hour and a half of exercise a day to use up their energy? Dogs who are cooped up inside or tied up in the yard all day by themselves are more prone to problem barking. This behavior uses up pent-up energy.

If you don't have enough time to walk your dog every day, you may need to hire someone to do it.

Nuisance Barking Is A Cry For Attention

Dogs are very social animals. In the wild, they live in packs. It's an unnatural situation for a dog to be alone for long periods of time. Loud barking is how your dog asks for attention.

Spend lots of time with your dog. Take him on errands with you in the car. Who hasn't seen a dog, joyfully hanging his head out a car window, sniffing the wind, and smiling? Play with him, talk with him. Make him a part of your life, and he'll reward you many times over with his devotion.

Make Sure You're The Alpha Dog

Dogs in the wild bark to alert the pack of strangers or danger. The pack leader then deals with the situation if necessary. You should do the same. When your dog barks, check to see what he's barking at. Then tell him, "that's enough." He should defer to you as the alpha dog. If he doesn't, take him by the collar and shake him gently, again saying "that's enough" more firmly. You need to establish yourself as the leader so your dog will listen to you.

Avoid Reinforcing Problem Barking

Believe it or not, yelling at your dog doesn't solve barking problems. Your dog is getting your attention, so he'll keep barking in order to get it, especially if that's the only time you pay attention to him.

It's very easy to inadvertently train your dog to do the wrong things. Avoid dog behavior problems by learning how to communicate with your dog effectively. A good dog training course that includes a consultation with a professional dog trainer may be the answer to your nuisance barking problems.