On Command Reno Dog Daycare and Dog Training | What can I do about barking dogs?

What can I do about barking dogs?!
Now that the weather is nice, your windows are cracked open, and the neighbor's dogs are spending more time outside. As a result, you may be hearing a lot of barking, and no matter how loud you turn up your music, the barking is still there! Frustrating! What is the proper way to address your neighbors or the dog itself?

Yelling out the window or banging on the fence will only perpetuate the behavior. These things may temporarily distract the dog from barking, but these are inappropriate ways to treat the dog.

First, you need to have a civil conversation with your neighbor. They are probably at work all day, and aren't aware that their dog is barking. This conversation should happen when you are not angry or fed up with the barking; you need to be level-headed. Keep in mind that you and your neighbor have something in common: you both have dogs, and you both want to take excellent care of your dogs. It is important to work together to find creative solutions!

Creative Solutions to Try with your Neighbor:

• Peanut Butter: Fill a Kong full of peanut butter and freeze it. Your neighbor can either give the Kong to the dog before going to work, or with your neighbor's permission, you can toss the Kong over the fence when the dog starts to bark. This will not train the dog to bark for peanut butter; it is simply giving the dog a distraction and something fun to do, for several hours.
• Socialization: Get to know your neighbor and your neighbor's dog! Offer to take your neighbor's dog for an hour or two during peak barking times. If your dog and the neighbor's dog can spend time together, fence fighting will turn into fence playing. As a result, this will diminish the barking, AND give YOUR dog something fun to do!
• Daycare: Mention On Command Daycare as an option for your neighbor's dog. Taking the dog out of the neighborhood will certainly stop the barking problem! When a dog has hours of fun play with other dogs in a controlled atmosphere, the dog will come home too tired and too content to bark. Even just going to daycare two or three days a week, will make for a happy dog the rest of the week. Sign up for our newsletter to get Daycare discounts.
  
• Walking: Offer to take your neighbor's dog for a walk! A good 45-60 minute walk will help make the barking subside. Dogs have a lot of energy that needs to be used! A big backyard is not enough to keep a dog busy. Dogs need interaction and purpose, which can be accomplished in a daily walk around the neighborhood.
• Airhorn: An air-pressured horn (popular at sporting events) can be tried to distract a dog, but ONLY with your neighbor's agreement. This airhorn should be blown right as the dog is barking. This will catch the dog off guard, and make it think twice before barking again. You may need to do this a few times before the dog makes the connection between the barking and the loud noise. If you try this method, it is imperative that you first check with your OTHER neighbors to see if there are any dogs or PEOPLE who are sensitive to loud noises. This is a method that should be used ONLY as a last resort.

What if it's MY dog?
Please be sensitive to your neighbors if your dog is at home all day. Ask your neighbors if your dog barks during the day! If you learn that your dog is one of the barkers on the block, try some of the solutions above! Sign up for our newsletter to receive discounts for Training!

Then, pat yourself on the back for being a good neighbor and dog owner!