Last Updated: 4 months ago
A GSD will bark to express its feelings and emotions. However, if its barking becomes irritating and out of control, you need to make it stop.
If you are getting complaints from your neighbors that your dog constantly barks and howls when you are not around, you need to do something about it. You cannot make the barking stop completely, as it is a natural way of communicating. However, you can try to control it with the help of certain training tactics.
Why Is My GSD Barking Constantly?
To control that annoying barking sound your GSD makes, you will first need to get to the root of it.
You cannot stop your dog from barking if you don’t know what’s causing it to bark in the first place. Many GSDs constantly bark because they do not like being alone. If you leave your dog alone for long hours and sometimes off the schedule, your GSD will react to it. It is natural for a dog to get upset if you do not give it the time it needs.
Your GSD might also bark when:
- It sees new faces in the house.
- It feels threatened by someone or something.
- It sees strangers.
- It sees a stranger entering your home.
- It hears another bark.
- It is angry.
- The doorbell rings.
- It feels isolated or lonely.
- It wants your attention.
- It’s suffering from separation anxiety.
- It is locked outside the house.
How Do I Make It Stop?
Hearing a dog bark constantly is very annoying and totally unbearable. When you get the first complaint from your neighbours telling you that your dog couldn’t let them sleep, act immediately. Take notice of the situation and try to figure out what triggered this behavior. If you continue to get complaints from other people, try the following techniques:
- Try to understand what your GSD really means when it barks.
- Is it angry or just wants to play? This will help you deal with the situation in a more effective way.
- If your GSD starts barking whenever you have a visitor at the door, take help from voice commands.
- The commands you can use to tell your dog that barking is not appropriate are ‘no,’ ‘stop’, and ‘quiet.’
- If your dog continues to bark, try to distract it.
- When a GSD barks at visitors, this usually means that it is trying to protect its family and territory.
- If so, let your dog know that it is in a safe environment.
- If your GSD stops barking once you let the visitors in, offer it a treat as a sign of appreciation.
- Repeat this several times until your dog creates the connection and learns to stay calm whenever someone rings the doorbell.
Socializing Your GSD
GSDs are extremely territorial and dominant. They do not like interference with their property and become overly protective when they feel threatened. That’s why it is essential for your dog to socialise at an early age.
Expose your pup to your family and friends. Let it mingle with strangers, children, and other animals. This way, it will feel calm and comfortable between others, and they will not see them as a threat. This is a great way of teaching your GSD to bark only when you allow it to.
Start Obedience Training Early
The best way to have control over your GSD’s barking habits is to include them in its obedience training lessons. If your pup doesn’t bark, it doesn’t mean that you can sit back and relax.
Its territorial instincts can kick in at any point, and then you’ll be left with no option but to suffer. Obedience training is the best type of training that turns a wild GSD into a home dog. Due to the success of obedience training methods, many people around the world prefer buying GSDs for their homes.
- Use a clicker to train your dog to bark and when to stop.
- Say ‘No’ when your dog barks without your consent.
- If your dog is exhibiting good manners during the training, praise it.
- Keep the barking to commands only, which means that you should only allow your dog to bark when you give it a heads-up.
- Set rules for barking.
- Make your GSD learn to alert you to certain conditions. For example, if a stranger enters your property, if someone breaks into your home, if someone in the family is hurt, etc.
- This training method will help you use your dog’s barking for appropriate things only.
A Piece of Advice!
If you are annoyed hearing your dog’s bark and complaints from the neighbours, do not lash out at your GSD.
GSDs are not dogs that can be controlled with power. These dogs are not only strong but also extremely dominant. When someone tries to control them using force, they react with aggression.
Sometimes these dogs will become violent when they are being beaten or shouted at. Stay calm and deal with your dog’s barking habit with patience. Only then will you be able to make it go away.
