Stop a Barking Retriever

Nobody likes a dog that constantly barks, so if you have one of those you will want to read how to stop a barking retriever before it gets you into trouble.

Stop a Barking RetrieverBarking is a dog’s way of communicating, but sometimes it can just be a bad habit. Thankfully, retrievers are easy to teach and there are a few ways to stop a barking retriever.

Stop a Barking Retriever by Finding out The Cause

Retrievers are not normally big barkers, so it is worth taking a holistic approach to the problem to find out why he is barking in the first place.

  • Anxiety. If your dog is suffering from something like separation anxiety or nervousness, he might be barking to relieve some stress.  This is more difficult to tackle in a grown dog than it is in a puppy but you will have to follow the same steps. Retrievers are sociable dogs that love companionship. You will have to leave your dog alone for a few minutes at a time and gradually increase this until he feels secure in the knowledge that you always come back.
  • Pent up energy. Retrievers are naturally energetic and exuberant dogs with an enthusiasm for life. Barking might be one way to channel this zest for life if there is no other outlet. The obvious answer would be to make sure your retriever is getting enough strenuous exercise.
  • Boredom. Retrievers not only need physical exercise, but mental stimulation too. They are intelligent dogs and can flourish when challenged beyond the mundane and routine. A bit of healthy stimulus could go a long way to stop a barking retriever.
  • Dominance. If your retriever is confused about who is the alpha leader, he may be barking to keep you in line. This must be remedied as soon as possible, for the sake of your family as well as the dog. The dog’s position should be right at the bottom of the pack and he must know this.
  • Responsibility. If your dog barks hysterically whenever a family member leaves the house, it might also be something to do with pack leadership. If he thinks he is the leader, he will be understandably upset when one of his charges is out of sight and he can’t control their movements. This is enormously upsetting and unnecessarily stressful for a dog. The answer is to take charge by ignoring the dog for 10 minutes when you come home, making him sit before being fed and demanding proper behavior in a firm and fair manner.

Do You Reward Bad Behavior?

When you have addressed all of these possible causes and your dog is still barking, take a look at how you react when he barks. Does he get attention and reward for bad behavior which only reinforces it?

  • Solution. Wait for your dog to bark and then have a treat ready.  Ignore him while he barks, but as soon as he is quiet, make him sit, praise him and give him a treat. If he starts barking again, turn your back and when he stops, reward him. He will soon get the idea that barking is bad and not barking is good.

There are no naughty dogs, just untrained ones. The onus is always on the dog owner to fix the problem by observing his own behavior and reactions. Stop a barking retriever by examining the relationship you have with your pet.