Humans have our language, and dogs have theirs. While it’s expected and usually acceptable for a dog to communicate vocally, excessive barking can become a problem. A dog that barks throughout the night can cause lost sleep; a barking dog kept outside or in an apartment can disrupt neighbors. If you’re at a loss as to what to do, there are several methods and products available to help. Choosing one can be hard, though, as they vary in effectiveness based on the personality and sensitivities of your dog.

Natural Methods

Yelling

Some dogs respond very well to verbal reprimanding, but often times all non-command words directed toward a dog are perceived as nothing more than attention. This method also tends to work well for dogs who bark excessively when crated. While in a different room, if you hear your dog start to bark simply voice a stern command to stop; such as “no!” It may take time, but eventually your dog will stop barking as often and, hopefully, all together. Many dogs will not respond to this method, as it just makes them want to be acknowledged more.

Water in the Face

This is another method that tends to be used for dogs who bark excessively when crated. Keep a small cup of water handy for this one. When your dog barks, grab the cup on water while on the way to his crate and splash him with it. Repeat this as necessary until he quiets down. This method is said to work in as little time as three days.

Anti-Bark Collars

Static Anti-Bark Collars

One of the most effective methods for getting your dog to stop barking is with a static shock collar. The collar has a device that fits tight against the voice box and, when the dog barks, a static shock is delivered. The intensity of the shock varies depending on how loud your dog has barked. This product was highly effective on my dog. After a few days he was barking less and quietly. Within a week he managed to escape from the collar and chew the clasps off, but his barking has stayed under control. While this collar is not made to be inhumane, it does cause the dog discomfort. This product is not very effective on breeds or individual dogs with high pain thresholds.

Citronella Collars

Many people feel the static collars are inhumane and opt for the citronella collars instead. This collar works the same way the static collars do, but instead of delivering static it hisses and sprays citronella. Dogs dislike the sound and smell of citronella, which makes this product very effective. Despite the fact that it may agitate the dog, it causes no harm or discomfort and therefore is considered more humane. It is the most expensive of the three collars mentioned here and requires refills for the spray.

Ultrasonic Collars

This is another one of the products that is considered more humane in comparison to the static collars. It works the same, but emits an ultrasonic tone in response to a dog’s bark. It is the cheapest of the three and isn’t very effective on dogs that are not sensitive to ultrasonic sounds.