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If you own a dog, you probably already know how much they benefit humans. They bring joy and help to reduce stress, and studies have found that owning a dog can even help you to live longer.

However, young dogs can have behavioral issues such as a nervous barking habit. This isn’t the dog’s fault completely; barking is natural, and it is an important form of canine communication, but excessive barking can be a sign that your dog is stressed or anxious.

Have you noticed your dog barking frequently and repetitively? If so, here are five tips to help stop your dog from barking.

Challenge Your Dog Physically and Mentally

One of the main causes of excessive barking is pent-up energy. If your dog isn’t getting enough exercise or mental stimulation, they will take out their energy the only way they can — by barking. So, make sure you set time aside every day to challenge your dog physically and mentally. Take them for one or two long walks and play treat-reward games with them when you are both at home.

If you do decide to play treat-reward games with your dog, we suggest getting high-quality, calming treats that will relax them and prevent further barking (such as hemp treats from ceebeedoo.com).

Try to Stay Calm When Training Them

It can be frustrating if your dog is constantly barking but getting irritated or annoyed won’t help anything. In fact, it could make your dog feel more stressed, so they end up barking even more. So, try to stay calm when you are training them not to bark and make it clear you are calm. Don’t make sudden movements, don’t shout and avoid negative body language.

Don’t Rush

Teaching your dog new habits will take a while, so stay patient each time you reprimand him. If you tell your dog off and he stops barking, don’t immediately go back to what you were doing. Watch your dog silently for a few moments to ensure he has fully submitted to your command. This will help your dog to stop barking over time, as they will start to understand the barking is bad behavior.

Assert Your Dominance

Does your dog bark constantly at one thing (such as person, a location or a situation)? If so, you may need to assert clean dominance over the specific thing. Project a calm, assertive energy as soon as your dog starts barking and create a wall between the dog and the thing to show you are in control. This will show your dog that you are in charge, rather than them, so they don’t need to worry about protecting you. Instead, you will protect them.

Consider Hiring Professional Help

If you try these five steps and your dog is still constantly barking, you may want to consider hiring professional help. This can be a little pricey, but the experts know a lot about dog behavioral problems, so they will be able to help you.

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