How to Fix Your Dog’s Non-Stop Barking
You can live in a quiet house again.

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Of all the mysterious things dogs do — feverishly diggingopens in a new tab to who-knows-where, gleefully shredding cardboard boxes instead of playing with toys — barking is one of the trickiest behaviors to decode. And that’s a problem, because it’s not only irritating; it can also be an indication that something is not quite right with your pal.
So, if you find that your dog is becoming especially vocal, here’s what you do: keep a bark diary. Yes, a bark diary. This is simply a journal where you keep track of each time your dog barks and what seems to have caused the commotion. Also note your dog’s body language at the time — ears perked up or held backopens in a new tab, tail stiffopens in a new tab or tucked between their legs? Once you connect the dots, you can better train them to go on mute. Below, how to stop your dog from barking in every scenario.

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Alert Barking
If your pup starts yapping when the mail carrier shows up or someone walks past your house, that’s probably alert-barking, which is pretty common. You can unintentionally reinforce this behavior just by going about your business. As far as your dog is concerned, their barking may have been the scare tactic that successfully kept your home safe from an intruder.
Get a head start on breaking the habit by blocking visibility when you’re not actively in training mode. Then, set up training sessions where you mark and treat your dog when they sit quietly while people pass by. You may have to start with an obscene number of treatsopens in a new tab, doling them out as each person passes, but once your dog catches on, you’ll be able to reel it back in.