Anxious barking is caused by anxiety or fear, and often happens when a dog sees a “trigger” such as a stranger, another dog, or a motorcycle. To stop anxious barking, you must identify the source of the anxiety and either eliminate it (if possible) or train the dog to accept it.

Demand barking is designed to get your attention. Unlike alert barking, it doesn’t usually relate to a change in the environment. Demand barking is basically your dog’s way of saying “Hey! Pay attention to me!” The best way to eliminate demand barking is to ignore it completely whenever it happens.

Alert barking occurs when your dog perceives a change in the environment. Dogs who alert bark excessively are often reacting to triggers around the home, such as birds, cars, and your neighbors.

Boredom barking happens when a dog is bored. The best solution to boredom barking is to keep your dog more entertained.

There are many different types of barking, including boredom barking, alert barking, demand barking, and anxious barking. This introduction is the first in a series of articles providing information on different types of barking and how to handle them.

Clicker trainers and other positive reinforcement trainers spend their lives finding ways to say “yes” to their pets, rather than constantly saying “no.” Research shows that reinforcement is a more powerful tool for modifying behavior than punishment.

One of the easiest ways to use a clicker is to capture behavior an animal already does naturally. Here’s a thumbnail sketch of how to do it.