Our German Shepherd, Jake, is a member of the family. He's about a year old, tips the scales at nearly 100 pounds, and plays a crucial role in our household. My husband and I have three lovely daughters, ages 8, 10, and 13. Following the holidays in 2012, Jake joined our family.
He's come a long way in the previous several months, but he still has that one unpleasant habit of going outside at night and barking.
During the day he keeps to himself, but as soon as night falls his hair stands on end and he begins to bark, not constantly but enough to be annoying.
Our yard is completely encircled by wireless fencing, so he may travel freely within his enclosed area. Our nearest neighbours are my sister and her family and my parents, who all have German Shepherds, so we're pretty much on our own out here in the middle of an old cow pasture.
Barking is Jake's natural way of expressing himself, so I can't really hold it against him, but it shouldn't get in the way of anyone's peace and quiet.
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Your German Shepherd needs some exercise and mental stimulation, therefore it's good that he or she barks. It's a stress-buster that works. Even so, Jake's excessive barking might be annoying at times.
You need to understand the causes of your German Shepherd's barking in order to put an end to it. When your GSD (or any dog) barks, he may be expressing a wide range of emotions, including illness, pain, anger, excitement, fear, and hunger.
Your dog could be attempting to let you know that there's someone in the house, that he has to go outdoors, or that he wants some attention. You shouldn't expect to be able to stop your dog from barking, but you can manage when and for how long he or she does so.
Your German Shepherd may be barking for a number of reasons; once you determine the root of the problem, you may take steps to eliminate the barking.
If your dog starts barking, it's important to investigate his immediate surroundings to find out what's up. Which of these emotions do you think he's feeling right now? Has an animal or stranger invaded his space? Read also: Using an Electric Dog Training Collar to Train the Recall
Perhaps he's seen something that poses a threat to him, but you haven't picked up on it. Can you tell me if he's harmed or if he's sick? You can eliminate some potential causes of your dog's barking as you work through the list.
To figure out why our German shepherd, Jake, was barking so much, I asked myself a series of questions. I tried to figure out when in the day Jake was the most active in his barking. Can I figure out what he is yelling about? ...
Was there a particular sound that set off his barking?
Jake is more likely to howl in the wee hours. Sure, he barks occasionally throughout the daytime, but his nighttime howls are much more persistent and ferocious.
As expected, living in the country means being subject to the howling of coyotes. I have a hunch that coyotes are responsible. We set up a trail camera and caught this coyote just outside our back door. I have little doubt that Jake associates the coyote's howl with danger, and that this is what prompts him to bark. Read also: Understanding Your Dog's Emotions for a Better Bathing Experience
He is trying to shield his loved ones from harm, so he can avoid confrontation. The knowledge of this makes his constant barking much more bearable.
Read more about brain training for dogs in this article… click here
Jake is more reserved when the weather is bad and the Coyotes are likely to be hiding deeper in the woods. They are out of earshot, and he doesn't get the impression they're trying to encroach on his space.
Instead of trying to yell at or kick your dog into silence, you should focus on making him feel comfortable in his surroundings. It's preferable to get rid of the root problem rather than the symptoms. The German Shepherd is an exceptionally smart dog that picks up new skills fast.
Although we can't get rid of the coyotes, we can use positive reinforcement to teach Jake some basic canine instructions. It is possible to train a German Shepherd to either bark when instructed or remain silent.
It could take a little practise, but it won't be too long. Even if you are unable to remove the source of the barking, you can train your German Shepherd to bark only when instructed and he will still be able to warn you of impending danger.
