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Can Chocolate Really Kill Your DogCan Chocolate Really Kill Your Dogby Gregg HallDog barking can be a major problem, especially if its YOUR dog! If there is anything neighbors hate, its loud noise coming from your house or garden - not everything is music to ones ears. And dogs barking seemingly without good reason is exceptionally annoying. Dog barking can be controlled through a number of ways, but as with all forms of dog training, positive reinforcement helps more than hitting your dog or just shouting at him to quiet down. You can try to restrain your dog from barking by using a muzzle, but this wont stop him from whining and in the end, you havent resolved the noise problem. Sometimes dogs bark for no visible reason, but its only because theyre lonely or restless. One of the lesser known ways of stopping a dog from barking is by countering noise with noise. How to do this? Put a few coins or pebbles inside a small empty can, and whenever your dog starts barking, take the can in hand and shake it. The noise will startle the dog and make him stop barking. He might start up again in a bit, but just shake the can again; sooner or later your dog will understand what the noise means, and be conditioned to respect it. If youre keeping a puppy and the poor little thing cant stop barking, take him aside and hold his jaws shut. While youre holding the jaws closed, say "No!" firmly. Release the muzzle once the puppy has calmed down... but if he starts barking again, repeat what you did. Sooner or later hell get the hint, or will at least be too exhausted to continue barking, then go back to sleep. After a few days of this, your puppy will be sure to understand what "No!" means when he barks. Special collars are another way to train your pets into behaving - but try to avoid shock collars, except in very extreme cases. Tone or vibration collars wont harm your dog, but ought to work as well. Vibration collars may be smarter, especially if youre keeping more than one dog, since its quieter. Moreover, tone collars may emit sounds similar to cell phones or other digital devices, and they might end up confusing your dog more than helping him. Stopping dog barking doesnt have to be a tricky task... however, it is important to remain humane and considerate of your dog, at all costs. |