Teach The Command Quiet
In some situations, your dog is simply communicating with other dogs that are passing by the house. The command QUIET can help you with those temporary spats of barking.
Like any other attempt to teach your dog a response that is not instinctive, you will need to exercise some patience. You need to give your dog sufficient opportunities to associate being quiet with the command.
There are lots of benefits to teaching your dog this command. It gives you a verbal cue that quiets your dog in any given situation. You can stop a Golden Retriever from barking when at home or other familiar situations. On the other hand, this command allows you to stop a Golden Retriever from barking in non-typical situations.
Why Does My Golden Retriever Bark So Much
If your Golden Retriever keeps barking, you might want to know why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of reasons why it might be doing it and what you can do to stop it.
So, why does my Golden Retriever bark so much? Possible reasons are that it is excited, fearful, being protective, you might have inadvertently rewarded the behavior, in pain or looking for attention.
There are a number of reasons why it might be doing it and it could be the result of a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when trying to figure out the exact reason. Once you have a good idea of the cause, you should also have an easier time getting it to stop.
What To Do If You Find A Lost Golden Retriever
If you find a Golden Retriever Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:2. Report the missing pet on the .3. Contact the Local Council to collect the lost animal.4. Take the pet to the local Animal Pound assigned to your area.5. Take the animal to the local Vet who normally scan the animals microchip and call the registered pet owner.
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Why Does My Golden Retriever Bark At Me
If your Golden Retriever has been barking at you, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my Golden Retriever bark at me? Possible reasons are that it wants your attention, you have been inadvertently encouraging the behavior, its bored, its excited, it is being aggressive or that it is being possessive.
There are a number of reasons why your Golden Retriever might be doing it and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are a number of things you can do about it.
Preventing Your Dog From Barking
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Why Do Golden Retrievers Bark
All dogs bark except for one breed, the Basenji. Just like talking is our way of communicating, barking is your dogs way of communication, and similar to our languages, barking serves a lot of different purposes.
So, before you start training why your dog is barking, you need to know why theyre barking in the first place.
Chances are you can already tell why your dog is barking. Just look at what changes have occurred in their life recently. You can also tell why your dog is barking by noticing what theyre barking at, when theyre barking, or what happens that they bark right after.
For example, if they bark every day while youre putting on your shoes, then they are barking because they know youre going to work and theyre going to stay home alone.
With that being said, its definitely a good idea to learn what types of barks there are and identify which is the one your dog uses this will make it very easy to handle the behavior and stop the excessive barking.
But first, there is actually a good question thats worth asking here
How To Stop Your Golden Retriever From Barking
Depending on different conditions and the reason for barking, the remedy usually varies. For example if a dog is threatened by certain objects, it is better to remove that from his sight. If the object cannot be moved then teach him the quiet command. Following are the most proven techniques to stop your golden retriever from barking
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All Dogs Including Golden Retrievers Will Bark Its Their Way Of Communicating
Just like human beings talk when they have something to say, dogs bark. Expecting a Golden retriever not to bark would be like expecting a person to stay silent for good when they have the ability to talk. But, that said, the fact that people can talk does not necessarily mean that they have to do so all the time. In the same way, even though dogs have to bark, they do not have to do so all the time.
Do Golden retrievers bark a lot when compared to the average dog? Golden Retrievers are among the friendliest and most peaceful pet dog breeds. They do bark, but their barks are fewer than most of the other dog breeds. The general temperament of this dog breed is best explained by a quote from a recent article by Jackie Lam in which she says, You wont have to worry about Golden Retrievers waking you up in the middle of the night. While they can make good watchdogs, Golden Retrievers are generally a quiet breed and bark occasionally.
When they do bark, their bark is usually more of a friendly bark than an aggressive one. This video shows a totally harmless Golden barking to the extreme amusement of a toddler:
Avoid Using A Muzzle On Your Golden Retriever
One thing that many dog owners do to prevent your dog from barking is to count on muzzles. Bear in mind such practices will not be an effective way to teach them not to bark. In the long term, this can also lead to other behavioral issues that might be too hard to handle.
All in all, barking isnt always bad. It helps give you a glimpse of what your dog is feeling and what you can do to help them. Just like with everything, this is also an important way of communicating with your pup.
However, this may become a concern if he starts to bark more than usual when you notice that is happening, you can hit on any of the methods mentioned above and get them under control before you know it!
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What Does A Resource Guarding Bark Look And Sound Like
A resource guarding bark will look like an aggressive bark described above in the Aggressive Barking section.
You may see body stiffness, growling, snapping, and other aggressive behaviors accompany the barking.
You might also see your Golden Retriever bark and then pick up the item and take it further away.
Your pup may put themselves in between the valuable thing and whoever they think may be trying to take it away while they bark.
Laws Regarding Missing Pets
1. It is against the law to keep any animal that you find.2. Pets are generally considered property and it is illegal to take and keep someone elses property.3. You must call your local animal control unit and file a FOUND AN ANIMAL report for any dog or cat you find.4. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee.5. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home.
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The Separation Anxiety Bark
How does it sound/look?
Dogs separation anxiety are stressed barks that quickly lead to whining, yelping, and mournful howling. They are also often accompanied by some destructive behaviors such as:
- Chewing
- Digging at windows and doors
- Pacing
- Defecation
Why They Bark?
Dogs with separation anxiety become seriously stresses, anxious, and even panic when separated from their owners.
What to do?
If you think your dogs barking is caused by separation anxiety, they need to see a professional trainer or behaviorist.
Start by first taking footage of your dogs barking in your absence and send it to the professional, if they confirm that its caused by separation anxiety, you need to ask for their help with it.
Some dogs may suffer from severe separation anxiety and may even need medications .
If youre not sure if your dogs drooling is triggered by separation anxiety, check out the 12 causes why Golden Retrievers drool here and theirsolutions.
Golden Retrievers Can Bark When They Are Alone
Most of the time, Golden Retriever dogs take up the hobby of barking when they are left alone in confined areas for long intervals of time.
So, care should be taken that your Golden retriever gets it due share of time and is not left alone for a long stretch of time.
Golden Retrievers need lots of attention else they are likely to resort to barking to get your companionship. While you are away, give your Golden retriever some toys to play with. Moreover, when playing with your pet, you should take special care that it does not bark and growl during playtime. Such behavior can grow into a very irritating habit if left unchecked. Coaching to manage Golden Retriever barking has to be performed consistently and affectionately.
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How To Get The Best Golden Retriever For You
After reading this, you might have a good idea of which gender you want
But remember this: these are trends, not rules.
A Goldens personality and characteristics are all about the specific dog and their parents.
So how do you get the best dog for you?
Talk to the breeder.
They know the puppies and the parents best and can tell you what to expect.
First, decide what traits you want in a dog, then talk to some breeders and see if they breed dogs that fit what youre looking for.
For example, if you want a dog to do agility, dock diving, or even hunting with, then you probably want an athletic, energetic field Golden Retriever, not a stocky show Golden Retriever.
On the other hand, if you want a calm companion or even a therapy dog, then you probably dont want that energetic field Golden.
After you find a breeder that breeds the type of dog you want, then they can help you decide on a boy or girl based on what youre looking for and what their puppies are like.
You can read this article for more information about how to find a good Golden Retriever breeder.
And heres one final note on male vs. female Golden Retrievers: sometimes you might not have a choice!
Goldens are so popular right now and the waitlists are very long, so you might have to just accept what you can get.
If youre in this situation, dont worry, both boy and girl Golden Retrievers are amazing and youll just be happy to finally bring one home.
Have any questions about male vs. female Golden Retrievers?
What Not To Do
So whats the solution? Well, its almost certainly not by giving them a bone to chew on while you are away. Imagine saying to the parent who is totally stressed that their young child is out on the streets
Dont worry, heres a box of chocolates! You may love chocolates but it is not going to work in this situation.
This is still one of the most common attempts to get dogs to stop barking.
Toys stuffed with food do not treat the cause of the problem either. Neither do other distractions.
They are only treating the symptoms and so may work, if youre lucky, for half an hour or so max but not long term. I think that the fact that these distractions temporarily stop the barking is the reason that so many people think they work.
Most of you will know that this doesnt work because youll have already tried it!
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How To Train Your Golden Retriever To Stop Barking A Lot
There a few training methods you can use to stop your Goldie from barking a lot, they include:
- Introducing people or things that your pooch has barked at before.
- Teach your doggy commands to stop barking
- Teach your dog that there are times to bark like when excited or playing. Remember, you dont want to eliminate barking, just bring it under control.
- Use positive reinforcement to reward exemplary behavior. For instance, if your doggy is barking to raise an alarm, get to your dog, investigate, give the quiet command, and then a treat if he follows it.
- Socialize your dog to be comfortable around people and other dogs. This lets your Goldie know that hes safe and theres no need to bark.
How To Use The Look At That Game To Stop Fear Barking
This game was created by trainer Leslie McDevitt.
Step 1: When the dog looks at the trigger, say yes and feed a treat.
The dog doesnt have to do anything. Simply give them a treat. Repeat this ten times.
Step 2: Delay the yes until the dog looks back at you.
Then say yes and treat.
Your dog will now be expecting to get a treat after they looked at the trigger and will likely look back at you to see whats taking you so long.
The moment they look back at you, say yes and treat. Repeat this another 10 times.
Play steps one and two a few times at home.
You can use different people or dogs that your dog is comfortable with to start.
The person or dog can also do increasingly distracting things, so long as the dog doesnt find them scary.
Keep your dog at a distance where they can be successful as they learn how the game works.
Step 3: Take the game on the road.
Set up the situation as best you can so that your dog doesnt feel the need bark.
Perhaps you can chill in a quiet corner of the park where your dog can spot a trigger without reacting.
If your dog will not eat food, youre too close to the triggers.
And if your dog is growling or barking, youre also too close.
Find a way to create more distance and try again.
As your dog shows success, you can gradually get closer to the trigger.
As you progress with this game, your dog will begin to point out triggers they see in their environment and then check back in with you, rather than reacting.
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Best Golden Retriever Training Program
Our favorite: The Dunbar Academy Training Program – If you want a happy and obedient dog, this is one of the best online dog training programs available right now. You can get the first month free using This link
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I created and currently manage Pet Dog Owner, the website you can go to when you have questions about your dog’s behavior. It is my hope that you find Pet Dog Owner to be a helpful resource. It is also my hope that it will help you to improve your relationship with your dog. You can read more about me and my website here.