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BARKING
Barking is a normal, natural behavior for dogs. It relieves tension, it drives strangers away, and it is the way dogs communicate. It is also a "self-reinforcing" activity for the dog, which means that the act of barking is its own reward in many instances. Because of this, barking is one of the most difficult canine behaviors to modify. Barking should stop when the dog is commanded to do so. For this reason, we need to control the behavior when possible and teach the dog when it is and is not acceptable to bark.
Socializing puppies to a variety of new people, animals, environments, and noises can reduce anxieties as the dog grows up. Owner control, training, and leadership are also essential. While young, the dog should learn to spend time playing or relaxing alone so that it's not too distressed when it must be left alone. Many dogs will bark excessively when their owners are absent. Other dogs are very stressed by being left alone outside all day. In their mind they are being cast out of the pack's den. These dogs exhibit stress by barking, digging, chewing and general destructiveness. By making your dog more a part of the family, your dog will become happier and less prone to these stress behaviors, including unwanted barking.
Many dogs are kept outside in fenced yards or runs, especially during the day while their family is at work or school. This is when most of the excessive barking problems occur, since dogs can become over-stimulated by noises and the presence of people and animals nearby. In this case, you need to remove the visual stimulus by tarping the fence and covering any holes. Then there is the bored dog with nothing better to do who engages in recreational barking to pass the time. Owners sometimes inadvertently reinforce the barking by giving the dog attention, positive or negative, when it barks excessively. It is best not to yell, scold, go to, play with, touch or pet, or bring indoors a dog that is barking, since all of the above attempted solutions may be seen as rewarding to the dog. When a behavior results in the dog getting what it wants, it will be more likely to repeat the behavior. Reward your dog by touching or petting, or give a treat or toy once he has stopped barking and is quiet. You want the dog to associate that being quiet is what gets him the reward, not barking.
Punishment is generally ineffective in the control and correction of barking problems. Never hit, slap, or hold your dog's mouth shut to stop the barking. This only teaches your dog to fear you, which can increase anxiety and further aggravate the problem. For punishment to be effective, barking must be disrupted at the instant it begins using a technique or device that effectively interrupts the barking. When you are not present and barking begins, the only solution might be to use bark-activated products. But unless the dog is also trained to be quiet in the presence of the stimulus, devices will only disrupt, not eliminate barking habits.
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