What do the barking mean?

 Dogs bark to show a whole range of emotions. They bark when they are excited, scared, surprised, anxious, happy, or even when they are bored.

There is no breed of dog that does not bark, although some vocalise little, such as the French Bulldog, the Bulldog, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the mysterious Shiba Inu.

On the contrary, there are other dog breeds that were born for singers, and the main one among them is the Husky, a dog that loves to bark and howl, although chihuahuas and shepherd-type dogs also have their talkative side.

How to stop my dog   from barking?

If you think: "my dog   barks a lot!". Trust your instincts and listen to your dog: is he anxious or excited? bored or scared?

If your dog barks all the time, he may need to get out and exercise more, and he may be barking out of boredom and excess energy.

If your dog barks at a specific person, he may not have been properly socialised as a puppy. The solution is to slowly get him used to different situations and all kinds of people.

There are dogs that have been accidentally taught to bark by their own families! If your dog barks when you sit down at the table and won't shut up until you give him a tasty bite, he is demanding that you give him food. Stop rewarding wrong behaviours and it will eventually go away, though it won't be easy, so be patient.

One of the most common reasons dogs bark excessively is anxiety about being separated from their families. If your dog starts barking as soon as you leave, he's probably doing it in protest. The solution in these cases is to give him something to occupy himself while you are away.

One trick to stop a dog from barking is to fill a hollow Kong-style toy with their favourite wet food or snack and freeze it.

When you leave, give the stuffed toy to your best friend and he will soon associate your absence with a delicious treat.

You should never punish a dog for barking, as this method is both cruel and counterproductive. If your dog barks too much, stay calm, don't reward him or try to bribe him. Pretend nothing is wrong and when he calms down, praise him and, if he all

ows it, coddle him, but keep your composure. Dogs are amplifiers of our own emotions.

If, in addition to barking, your dog has learned bad habits, such as growling or chasing everything he sees or smells, there is a powerful positive technique called counterconditioning. Teach your dog a little obedience routine (sit, hand, ground… you name it).

When your dog starts to misbehave, ask him to do the exercises that you have practised and, if he does them, give him a treat. It is very important that you do not reward him unless he does what you ask. Eventually, he will associate being with you as more exciting than barking at him.

Finally, if your dog barks for no apparent reason, he also vocalises with squeals or cries, and acts abnormally, it could be painful! Visit your veterinarian, since he will be able to review his health status.