How to Get a Dog to Stop Barking At People

Are you trying to figure out how to get a dog to stop barking at people?  I figured you were.

First you have to figure out why your dog is barking at people.  If you have had the dog since he was a puppy you can usually rule out abuse.

Is your dog barking at people who walk by outside?  If so, this is your dogs way of saying "I'm here, I see you, I decide who comes in and who doesn't. Don't try anything funny".  That is what a dog will naturally do, as do most humans, protect their home.

Is your dog barking at people when you take him for a walk? If so, this could be your dog saying "I see you, don't mess with my owner or you will have to answer to me".  Believe it or not, dogs will protect their loved ones.

Is your dog behind a fence barking at people that he can or cannot see?  This goes back to a dog protecting his home.  It is the same if he can't see through the fence, the sound just makes him feel more protective.

Don't get the wrong impression of your dog.  There is always a reason he barks at people and usually it is for protection.  It is, also, more of a talking the talk sort of thing, a warning if you will.

When trying to figure out how to get a dog to stop barking at people there are a few things to look for.  Yes, your dog could be barking as a warning, but what if it is more than a warning?  What if your dog is about to attack?  Do you know what to look for?

First, the ears are the windows to a dogs soul, and mind.  Ears that are perked up and tense are the "alert" ears.  That means he knows there is something there.  Ears that are closed in and pulled back are the "I'm about to attack" ears.  This would be the point where you should walk in the other direction.  Ears that are relaxed and/or floppy are the "its all good" ears.  He is just barking to be barking.

Second, the rest of a face is just as important as the ears.  Have you ever looked at someones face and been able to tell if they were mad, sad, happy...? We all have, and it is almost the same for dogs.  You can tell what a dog is feeling by looking at his ears and face.  A tense face is an unhappy face, turn around!

Third, no matter what the ears and face are doing, look at the fur on your dogs back.  Is it standing on end, usually going right down the spine?  This is called "piloerection", this is like humans having goosebumps.  This means that a dog is scared or feels threatened.

Positive reinforcement will stop most unwanted behavior.  But this is the WRONG method of stopping a dog that barks at people.  Positive reinforcement will just REINFORCE the behavior.

I feel that the best method of stopping this unwanted behavior is a metal can with coins in it.  When your dog starts to bark at a person, shake it.  Your dog will hate the noise it makes, I even hate the noise. 

Your dog will remember this noise and think twice before barking at a person again.  It wont happen overnight, but it will work.

Please, DO NOT do this when he is showing signs of anger or of being threatened!  This could set him off, and now you have a dog that is about to attack someone.  That will probably lead to a lawsuit and...even worse for your dog...