Ask any experienced dog owner and you will know that training a dog to minimize barking is never easy.

This is largely because dogs bark for different reasons and part of your challenge is to identify his motivation. You will never be able to help your dog rid the bad habit if you are not aware of the cause of his barking.

While there are several techniques you can try, expecting overnight success is definitely pointless. Dog training can take a while and you, the dog master, have to be patient at all times to achieve the desired results.

Here are a few practical tips that might help you deal with an incessant barker:

Tip 1: Identify the motivation and remove it.

This means you have to observe your dog carefully and then find out what makes him bark often. Do something about it once you have discovered the main reason for the barking.

An example of this is when your dog has the habit of barking at every person that passes by your house. Of course, most dogs normally do this but in case your pet is doing it too much, then you really have to come up with a good solution.

One idea you can try is to limit your dog’s vision to the outside by installing curtains. If that doesn’t seem to work, then put your pet in another room away from the traffic.

Tip 2: Don’t pay attention to the barking.

This can be a bit difficult to do especially if the barking is starting to get on your nerves. However, ignoring the barking is sometimes the best step to take. Control the irritation and don’t yell at your dog. Remember that losing your patience brings negative consequences. It only encourages your dog to bark harder next time around because he knows he’ll get your attention. Also, shouting seems like you are joining him in the noise. This only encourages him.

Giving a treat is only acceptable once your pet is silent for a while. Otherwise, your dog may get the wrong message and think that barking is a way to get those treats.

Tip 3: Teach your dog basic commands.

It will likely require several weeks, if not months, but this can be very rewarding. Teach him to bark and stop on command. Say “speak” when you want him to bark and “quiet” when you want him to stop. Reward him with a treat or give him a gentle pat as he obeys. Spend at least 15 to 30 minutes each day doing this in a quiet place away from distractions (such as inside the house). You can then change to a more crowded location (like the park or your yard) to train your dog to follow the commands despite outside pressures from distracting stimuluses.

When all these tricks still fail, you can take other actions such as taking your pet to a professional trainer or a veterinarian.

Some dog owners say that using shock collars can be effective in stopping your dog from barking, but shock collars are inhumane and can cause other problems. Whistle collars that emit a high-pitched sound can distract your dog away from the reason he is barking or a spray collar that disburses a spray of water at your dog is another safe humane alternative to try.