How to Stop a German Shepherd Barking
When your cute little German Shepherd puppy barks his cute little bark at the mailman, everyone smiles. When that puppy grows into a full sized German Shepherd that viscously barks at the mailman everyday, almost giving the man a heart attack, no one is laughing. Before it gets to that point, you want to make sure that you are addressing the barking behavior of your dog.
One of the first things you want to look at is what is causing the dog to bark. Of course, you can never expect your dog to be completely silent but if the barking is excessive, you want to take a look at all of the reasons that might be. One common reason for the excessive barking is boredom
If you have an outside dog of does not have much in his day besides a dog box and a chain, of course he is going to find entertain in barking at people who walk past them. They come by, he barks and then they walk away. Since he has nothing else to do, this is a great way for your dog to entertain himself. You want to make sure that your dog has other things to do and that he is given enough physical and mental stimulation so that he will not resort to barking as a form of entertainment.
Another reason your dog could be barking is poor socialization. If your puppy or dog has not been properly socialized with other dogs and people, its natural reaction is going to be to bark at them. You can fix this before it even starts by making sure that your dog is introduced to as many other animals as possible, dogs and cats a like. Also, make sure that your dog is being introduced to many other types of people as well, including absolute strangers in the park. This will ensure that your dog does not go crazy with his barking every time a new animal or person comes his way.
Take your dog to the dog park or simply take him for a walk around the neighborhood every day. Also, make sure that you are inviting people into your house so that your dog can become comfortable with the idea that other people, outside of those who are in your immediate family, will be coming over to visit and that it
Then of course, there comes a point where the barking, even though controlled, cannot be stopped if you have a dog that is simply naturally prone to barking. This is something you should always research before you select the breed of dog you will get. Of course, the German Shepherd is not overly known for its non-stop yappy barking, but every dog in every breed is different as they all have their own little personalities.