Dog Owners Provide Actionable Advice On Stopping Dogs From Excessively Barking At Strangers During Walks

"The reason your dog acts aggressively is because you let him."

May

• Published in Interesting
• March 1, 2024

When you're out for a stroll, and your furry friend decides to bark at passersby, it's quite common to feel a tad flustered. Remember, barking is just a natural expression for our canine companions, but it's understandable that we prefer they don't bark excessively, especially at people.

Our furry buddies might bark for various reasons – they could be excited, frustrated about not being able to say hello, or perhaps feeling a bit wary or uneasy about someone's presence. Even in your own yard, your dog might feel protective or want to warn others to keep their distance.

No matter the reason behind your dog's barking, there are some fun games you can try so that your pet can learn to ignore people. But when it comes to the early stages of the training, you need to do it in a peaceful and familiar setting, such as indoors or in your own yard.

As your furry friend grows more accustomed and confident with the activity, you can gradually introduce them to busier environments. The essence of each of these focus games lies in your dog's choice to turn away from or disregard the distractions – whether it's someone strolling by, a child on a bike, or your neighbor tending to their garden.

If you're wondering about the other ways you can teach your dog how not to bark at people during walks, this post is for you. Over at Quora, people whose dogs have had the same problem answered this question:

How can I stop my dogs barking at other dogs and strangers while on a walk? They are not aggressive but it intimidates people.

Not the best solution, but a muzzle could work.

The dogs will hate this, but you could try a muzzle. Rather than ‘keeping’ them muzzled on a walk, Try taking the muzzle on and off- putting it back on immediately, if they begin to bark (it’s tough for the dog, this is their excitement coming out in dog language).

Bring treats for stretches of time they go WITHOUT barking (while on the walks). There are some really good canine sites & blogs, and I’m sure, other dog owners with suggestions.

Canines are smart-They should catch on to the “Don’t Bark, or I’m going to get muzzled”. Canines can learn that association, but use positive reinforcement.

A muzzle seems cruel - but you would be using it as a ‘training’ tool, and let them be reassured that they aren’t being ‘BAD’…Good Luck!

Maybe watching The Dog Whisperer series by Cesar Millan could help.

Maybe you could see if there’s a Cesar Milan video available to watch online or rent. I’ve used some of his training technics, and they really do work.

It’s a lot about the energy you present to your dog. It’s important not to get angry at your dog.

An idea is to be tuned in to your dog and be ready to redirect his/her attention towards you. Carry a treat bag with you.

When you feel your dog is ready to react towards another dog, immediately have the dog sit and put the treat in front of the dog and have the dog focus on the treat while looking at you. I hope what I’ve written makes sense.

Ceasar Milan has had these types of issues on his show, so you may be able to find some online videos.

Determine where the aggression is coming from, according to a professional trainer.

The reason your dog acts aggressively is because you let him. Your attempts to stop the behavior were not the correct thing to do.

As a professional dog trainer I come across this problem all the time. The first thing is to find out what is driving the aggression.

This is done by observing the dog. Most dogs do this because of anxiety, and are not truly aggressive.

Then I relive the anxiety in a variety of different ways. There are lots of videos on the internet showing trainers successfully dealing with aggression.

You can watch those and try and pick up the training methods.

Anticipated response could trigger this behavior in dogs.

A lot of it comes down to your response or your anticipated response. When you’re walking your dogs and you see other dogs approaching you probably automatically tense up in anticipation of how your dogs will react.

This goes straight down the lead to your dogs who know now you’re worried and figure the approaching dogs/people are things they need to protect you from. So they bark to warn the other dogs/people to stay away from you.

If the other dogs keep coming or you keep walking towards them your dogs will bark even more. I worked this out mostly because my own dog barked a lot at other dogs when he’s on leash yet when he’s off leash and meets other dogs (at the dog park, groomers etc) he doesn’t bark at all.

I started to consciously calm myself when we saw other dogs by stopping, moving my dog out of the direct path of the approaching animals, and making him sit. Then I pat him, praise him and offer him a small treat for as long as he doesn’t bark while the other animals go by.

I have found now that if he’s allowed to approach the other dogs on his lead (I always ask the other owner first) he will stop barking anyway and they will get acquainted in the usual dogly way. If your dogs are small they are more likely to bark at first because that is their first line of defense but it can be kept to a simple alert bark.

YouTube and gradual training will help owners whose dogs bark excessively.

That sort of thing is covered in a multitude of dog training videos on You Tube. It has to be done slowly, with lots of rewards for your dog if he looks at you when there’s another dog in the vicinity.

Gradually you decrease the distance between your dog and the other until he can walk past another dog and keep looking at you.

When the owners are tense, the dogs can sense it. That's why they bark.

It sounds like your anticipating this to happen? You see animals feel our energy.

If you are tense they will sense your energy and feed on it. So I think the problem seems to be with you.

Im not trying to embarrass you, just help you. If you are calm and relaxed when you go for a walk your pets will be too.

Take some deep breaths or meditate before you go out for a walk. Also put a “leader leash” on your dogs.

A harness leash does opposite, it constricts, adds to tension. Trust me this will work.!

You have to get in the right frame of mind. If your thinking negative then your body tenses, blood pressure rises, heart rate increases.

The dog senses these changes in you and feels you need protection/threating? Pay attention to relaxing arms while walking.

Loosen the leash. If your pulling your dog close & tight to you ?

How do you think your dog will interpret your body language? Danger/a threat nearing.

This is the main reason why your dog is barking. Your body language as you walk is putting him in the defensive state of mind.

Try please! You and your dogs will be much happier on walks!!!

Dog training will surely help the Quora user address this behavior in their dog. Some of the best takeaways are to address their anticipated response and incorporate training techniques by watching professionals such as Cesar Millan and those on YouTube.

Did your dog have the same problem? How were you able to address their excessive barking at strangers during walks?

May