Stopping a dog from barking can be a challenge. It can become a serious problem if your dog barks continuously because no one wants to hear it. So what options do you have to stop a dog from barking?

There are dog training facilities that can help stop barking and also teach him to obey commands Or, to do it yourself you can try exercising your dog and using up energy so he'll stop barking so much. Exhausted dogs will normally bark a lot less because they are too tired.

Sometimes barking is good, it's your dog's main way of communicating with you. If your dog senses something and wants you to know he may bark. In those cases, showing your dog you understand may be enough to stop the barking. If that doesn't work, tell him verbally to stop or sit. If that stops the barking, reinforce the good behavior with goodies or affection.

It would be tough for your dog to eat and bark at the same time, so treats can be very helpful. Have you ever heard a dog barking with food in his mouth? Your dog will be totally focused on the reward and forget about barking!

And then there are shock collars, too, but some people worry if they actually hurt the dog.

Some collars activate when they hear the dog barking, others activate when they feel the vibration from the bark. Neither type is perfect. Both types of collars can be activated by mistake under the right circumstances, which could confuse your dog. So now they make dual collars that use both types of detection and even have protection against false activation.

Whichever method you use, barking can be brought under control in a reasonably short space of time, so persevere and enjoy your dog for years to come.