You have a new Labrador puppy and she is the sweetest, most loveable puppy you could ever wish to have, except for one thing: she barks almost constantly. What can you do about this behavior? Is there any method of training a dog not to bark? If so, what is the first step?
First, remember that your dog barking doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. Barking is a natural dog behavior. However, there are certain dog training methods that can discourage your Labrador from barking too often or in the wrong contexts (such as the middle of the night when you and your neighbors are trying to sleep!)
Usually, puppies do not bark without reason so a key to discouraging your Lab from barking is to figure out why she is barking. This will take time and patience and even some insight on your part. Consider all the factors involved, and ask yourself several questions.
- When does your Labrador puppy usually bark the most?
- If it’s the middle of the night, where is she (Inside or outside)?
- Is she outside, where she might be cold, or lonely, or even frightened?
- Is she inside in another room, or locked up in some way?
- Is it possible she may need to urinate?
- Is it possible she may be responding to noises, other dogs, or someone in your yard?
Once you have determined the cause of the barking, correct the problem immediately and see if that helps. If you cannot determine why your dog is barking, or if the barking is inappropriate, you may want to consider training. Once you find out why your Lab is barking, the path to a solution becomes clearer, though it may take some creativity and lots of patience to resolve it, especially if your puppy is barking because she is lonely or scared.
Informative post. Unwanted barking can be easily rectified using clicker training. Barking can be due to underutilized energy in the dog, due to lack of good exercise or may be some underlying medical condition otherwise it feels insecure or may be in some need. But usually they don’t bark.