Stop a Barking Dog
The first option that you can try to stop a barking dog is through the use of training. A dog can't bark and eat at the same time, so you can try to use treats to train your dog to stop barking. Here's how you do it. When you have your dog in a situation when you know he is going to bark (such as at the door when someone rings the doorbell) you hold out a treat in front of him or her. You use the command "be quiet" and show the dog the treat. When the dog stops barking you give the treat. Over time the dog will begin to recognize the command "be quiet" and follow it without the use of the treat.
Using training such as this is one way to stop a barking dog, but it doesn't work all the time. There are other training methods you can try, ones that give a negative reinforcement to the dog's behavior. When the dog begins to bark you spray water in his or her face. Over time your dog might associate this negative reinforcement with the barking. For some animals this is a way to stop the unwanted and excessive barking.
Not all dogs will respond to training. If your first attempt at trying to stop the barking fails then you are probably asking yourself the question "how do I stop this dog from barking" and wondering if there is any way to do so. If you have a stubborn barker then you will need to explore other ways to answer the question how to stop a dog from barking.
Another option to try when you want to stop a barking dog is to use an ultrasonic dog bark control device. These products use a high frequency sound that only a dog can hear to stop the unwanted barking. The sound the device sends out is annoying and surprising to the dog. There is a sensor in the unit that picks up the sound of the dog's bark. The dog doesn't like to hear the sound and begins to associate this negative sound with the barking behavior. Either the dog will stop barking, or as soon as it hears the sound will stop barking. Not all dogs respond to this product. Since there are sensors in them to pick up the barking they must be placed where the dog barks. Many dogs don't have as specific place where they bark so unless you have a problem place (say the front window) or purchase multiple units for use around your house, an ultrasonic dog bark control device might not work to help stop a barking dog.
Spray collars are another product that some people use to stop a barking dog. The collar is filled with a spray that is harmless to the dog. There are unscented sprays and citronella sprays that can be used. The collar is placed against the dog's vocal cords. It picks up the vibration of barking and sends out a puff of spray into the dog's face. This spray surprises the dog and interrupts the unwanted barking behavior. If you don't want to use an electric shock collar on your animal this is a more gentle way to try to stop a barking dog.
Electronic shock collars are another option some people use to try to stop a barking dog. The premise is the same as with the spray bark collars. The product is placed against the dog's vocal cords, and when vibration is picked up from the bark an electric shock is given to the animal. This isn't the most humane way to try to stop a barking dog, but for some dogs who are stubborn barkers it is the only way their owners have found to quiet the excessive and unwanted barking behavior.
A barking dog can be very annoying not only to the owners, but to neighbors as well. Many communities have barking dog laws that will fine the owners for excessive barking. Hopefully you have found out some answers here to your question of how to stop a barking dog.