Have you ever been in a situation where your dog comes into contact with another dog? If so, that isn’t really surprising at all as this is a common occurrence. Unless you happen to live out in the countryside, chances are high that your dog will encounter another dog one way or another.
Also, if you have found yourself in a situation where your dog is barking at another dog, do know that you are not alone as this is also a common thing. But, this can be quite embarrassing for dog owners, especially if this happens right in front of other people. So, you may be asking yourself about what you can do to stop a dog from barking at other dogs. I am here to offer you a helping hand on how to do so.
Stop A Dog From Barking At Other Dogs By Using These Three Strategies
1. The Relaxation Method
Here in this section of the post, I am going to explain what I would refer to as the relaxation method. To get started, bring your dog to a setting where you are most likely to see other dogs around.
Let’s do a dog park since this is a place where dogs are most commonly found. Be sure to bring a pack of tasty treats, like Canine Carry Outs Dog Treats, for your dog with you to the dog park.
Once at the dog park, be sure to place yourself and your dog at a safe distance away from other dogs. Ideally, you want your dot to stay as far away from the other dogs as possible, but at the same time, close enough that he/she can spot at least one of the dogs there.
It may take a few tries before you find the ideal distance for your dog to stay still, but a good spot would be at a corner of the dog park.
Now, wait until your dog spot another dog and then observe him/her. If your dog doesn’t bark at the sight of another dog, continually reward him/her with a treat until that dog has passed along. After that happens, bring your dog just a few feet closer to another dog and watch him/her.
If your dog does bark when another dog has been spotted, don’t give him/her any treats because you don’t want him/her to see this as a reward for barking at another dog.
Instead, move your dog a few feet backward and then start the process again. But, if your dog doesn’t bark at the sight of another dog, reward him/her with the treat just like you did previously.
Once that happen, continue to move a few feet closer to another dog and then repeat the same process as before. You will want to continue to practice this with your dog every chance you get to visit a dog park – ideally on a daily basis. Eventually, your dog will get the hang of it.
2. Strategies For Dog Walks
I am going to share a couple strategies that you can make use of during your dog walks to prevent your dog from barking at another dog. The first strategy is to use treats in order to distract your dog.
The idea here is that if your dog is getting ready to bark as soon as another dog comes up, you will want to give him/her a treat in order to distract him/her.
Make sure that you watch out for warning signs that your dog is about to bark at another dog. These warning signs include, but is not limited to, raising hackles, growling, and staring.
So, be sure to time your treat with the warning signs in order to prevent your dog from barking at another dog.
Another strategy to use with your dog is to vary up your dog walks and routes a little bit. So, if another dog is about to head towards you and your dog, you may want to turn around and head into a completely different direction from that of the other dog.
I would suggest that you make your dog walks more challenging in order to draw in his attention. For example, you may want to accelerate the speed of your dog walk in order to make it go faster.
It may also be helpful for you and your dog to go for a walk in an area that is less crowded, lessening the chances that your dog will encounter another dog.
Also, when you are going on a dog walk, make sure that your dog is wearing a harness that is comfortable on him.
That way your dog won’t get hurt in the event that you need to pull back and/or suddenly turn him/her around during the walk. No-pull harnesses are by far the most comfortable ones.
I definitely recommend the BARKBAY No Pull Harness Front Clip. It comes in all sizes from small to extra large and there are many color options for you to choose from.
Also, if you don’t have a leash to attach the harness to, I recommend the BAAPET dog leash as that is the most comfortable one that I know of.
3. When Your Dog Is Home
It is worth noting that your dog may also bark at another dog at home if he/she sees or hears one nearby. There are at least two suggestions I have for how you can resolve this problem. The first suggestion is to play something with your dog in order to keep him/her entertained.
Frisbee is a great way to play with your dog. If you aren’t sure how frisbee is played, you toss the rounded disc across the air and your dog needs to catch it with his mouth.
Another suggestion is for you to draw down all of your house windows with curtains or blinds and to set your television or radio on low volume. That will prevent your dog from even being able to see or hear another dog nearby.
Concluding How To Stop A Dog From Barking At Other Dogs
So, with all that being said, dogs have their reasons for barking at other dogs. The most common of the reasons has to do with their anxiety in encountering other dogs, especially the ones that they have never encountered before.
So, if your dog is a dog who barks at another dog, then it is well worth taking a look at the strategies that I have discussed here in order to stop a dog from barking at other dogs.
What are your thoughts? Has your dog barked at another dog before? Feel free to leave a comment below.