FOCUS · WEEK 06
How to Stop a Dog From Barking Too Much
Identify the trigger, train the alternative. 12-week plan for demand barking, alarm barking, and reactivity barking. From $9.99/month.
Build my plan01 · Why it happens
What's actually going on.
Barking is communication, not malfunction. There's demand barking (I want X), alarm barking (something's there), and frustration barking (I can't get to it). Each has a different fix — generic 'no' commands don't address any of them.
02 · The approach
Four steps,
in this order.
- 1Diagnose the bark category — demand, alarm, frustration, or boredom — through 3 days of logging.
- 2For each category, train the incompatible behaviour: settle on mat, look-at-me, or threshold work.
- 3Remove reinforcement: demand barking gets ignored, alarm gets quieter through counter-conditioning.
- 4Mental stimulation budget — a tired-brain dog barks less than a tired-body dog.
03 · In the program
Front-loaded in
Week 06.
The 12-week plan dedicates Week 6 as the focus phase for excessive barking. Before then we lay the foundations (engagement, self-control); after, we generalize to real-world distractions and lock in reliability.
04 · FAQ
Common questions.
Can I use a bark collar?+
No. Bark collars suppress without addressing the cause — the underlying anxiety or frustration usually surfaces as a different behaviour. The program is built around teaching, not suppressing.
My dog barks at every sound. Is that fixable?+
Yes. Sound sensitivity responds well to counter-conditioning + mental stimulation. Expect 4–8 weeks of consistent work.
What about barking when I leave?+
That's separation anxiety, not just barking. Use the dedicated separation-anxiety track instead.
Ready to fix it?
10 questions, 60 seconds. We'll build the 12-week plan with excessive barking weighted in the right place.
Build my planFrom $9.99/month · 7-day refund