Excessive barking for most dogs is not a normal behavior.

A few barks to alert pack members that there may be danger is normal but excessive barking is a red flag that there are other issues concerning the dog. For example, the dog may be experiencing undue stress or anxiety.

The first thing that needs to be done is to develop a pack leadership role with the dog and again the best way to do this is through good structured obedience training.

It will do no good yelling or screaming or even worse hitting the dog. If you are not the pack leader the dog does not believe you could protect them in a dangerous situation. There is no gray area to a dog. There is a leader and a follower.

To stop or curb a dog’s excessive barking, an owner needs to understand the context. For example, if a dog is left outside all day, this can cause the dog to become stressed. If the dog’s barking is induced by a situation such as meeting another dog or meeting children, then the dog’s negative association needs to be remedied

Structured dog obedience training can often solve this immediate issue and help an owner get his dog back into a calm state.