Is your dog barking too much? Find out why he's being vocal

Bark! Bark! Bark! If you have ever wanted your dog to stop barking, you have to start by understanding why he is barking. After you know the purpose of the bark, you can work to decrease it.

Territorial

Dogs bark to protect their territory. Motivated by a real or imagined threat, they bark to chase away the perceived risk. Their territories often include their homes and yards, but also can include their daily walking paths and other spaces they identify as theirs. Have you ever walked by a car in a parking lot and suddenly heard a barrage of barking? Territorial barking!

Dogs are often rewarded for their territorial barking because the threat goes away when they bark. The mail carrier delivers the mail and goes away. The cat passing through the backyard runs away. The person passing by their car in the parking lot walks away. They believe their barking has worked and, thus, the behavior is reinforced.

The easiest way to reduce territorial barking is to block a dog's view - close the curtains, put up a solid fence or move him to another area. Distract with yummy treats when passing other people or dogs on walks. Never yell for him to be quiet. He may believe you are joining the chorus.

Alarm

Similar to territorial barking, dogs often bark excessively when something scares them. Our golden retriever used to bark at thunder. Puppies who are not properly socialized may exhibit fear or alarm barking. A traumatic event may also trigger its development.

Never punish a dog for alarm barking. It will only add more unpleasantness to their fear and reinforce the barking. If you believe your dog is barking from fear, consult with your veterinarian for tips on how to alter his behavior.

Playful

Dogs often bark to say hello and invite others to play. The difference between playful and territorial barking is their body language. Bodies are relaxed and tails are wagging with playful intent.

Does your dog bombard you with barks when you get home? Don't reward him by giving him lots of affection. Instead, pay no attention to him until he is quiet. Then shower him with love.

To reduce the amount of barking whenever someone else comes to the door, train an alternate behavior. Begin by teaching him to sit and stay in a location you want him to be when visitors arrive. Train slowly in small steps - just the doorbell, then the doorbell and opening the door, and, finally, with people arriving.

To reduce playful barking when passing people or other dogs on walks, praise and distract him with treats just as with territorial barking.

Boredom

You may not know your dog barks when he's bored or lonely until you get a phone call from an angry neighbor. Taking him for a long walk before you leave encourages a long nap. Giving him activities - a Kong filled with low-calorie treats or a food puzzle and a selection of toys - will help keep him occupied and entertained.

Other options include hiring someone to play with him for an hour during the day or taking him for a midday walk. Or, you could take him to doggy day care a day or two each week.

Separation anxiety

When a dog barks because of separation anxiety, consult with your veterinarian. A dog suffering from separation anxiety is in distress. Oftentimes, he also drools heavily, paces, howls, causes damage and may even injure himself as he tries to escape his home.

Attention-seeking

If you taught your dog to bark to tell you he has to go outside, but now he's barking at you because he's hungry, wants you to pet or play with him, or needs his water dish filled, you also taught him that barking gets him what he wants. If you want him to stop, try training alternate behaviors.

My grandpuppy, Bella, used to ring a bell by the door when she had to go out. Teach your dog to bring you the ball when he wants you to throw it or to gently put his head on your knee if he wants you to pet him.

The most difficult part of this training will be to train yourself to consistently ignore demands made by barking. Any attention at all - positive or negative - will reward and reinforce his behavior. Be sure he is quiet before giving lots of praise.

As with all behaviors, if your dog suddenly begins barking more than usual, be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out any medical reasons.

• Diana Stoll is the Practice Manager at Red Barn Animal Hospital with locations in Hampshire and Gilberts. Visit the website at redbarnpetvet.com/ or call (847) 683-4788 (Hampshire) or (847) 426-1000 (Gilberts).