Training German Shepherd Dogs - Stop Dog Barking
Dog barking is an issue for many people. If you've decided it's time to stop your German Shepherd dog from barking in your home, you will likely already know that there are only so many things you can do about the problem. After all, dogs are born to bark. Regardless of breeding and refinement over the last several millennia, they still have that urgent desire to vocalize their feelings and needs. In fact, there is only one breed of dog - the Basenji - that does not bark at all.
So, before you can stop your German Shepherd dog from barking, you need to understand why they bark and what forms of barking you can control.
Training German Shepherd Dogs - the Causes of Dog Barking
German Shepherd dogs bark for any number of reasons. They bark when they are angry. They bark when they are excited. They even bark when they are scared. Here is a rundown of when you might expect your dog to start barking:
Territorial Barking Alarm Barking Attention Seeking Barking Greeting Barking Frustration Barking Compulsive Barking Injury or Illness Related Barking
As you can see, barking is a major part of who your dog is. It's impossible to stop dog barking completely. They're going to want to express themselves at times, regardless of what you do to inhibit their behaviours.
Training German Shepherd Dogs - How to stop Dog Barking
When your dog refuses to stop barking, first determine if the behaviour is warranted. Nine times out of ten, it's excessive and can be controlled. If you decide that your dog's barking can and should be controlled, ask yourself these questions.
When does my dog bark? What is my dog barking at? Does my dog have a specific trigger?
If you determine that dog barking in your dog is because it wants to protect its territory or is simply alarmed by something, you cannot simply yell at your dog to stop. In fact, negative reinforcement for territorial barking can often lead to biting or aggression in other forms. Your German Shepherd dog doesn't understand what you're trying to tell them. They stop the barking, but the territorial issues are still there.
Resources: http://www.onlinedoggytrainer.com/how-to-train-a-dog-not-to-bark-handy-tips/ http://ezinearticles.com/?Training-German-Shepherd-Dogs---Stop-DogBarking&id=4810896