Dogs barking randomly is a relatively common thing, but it brings a lot of trouble to our lives, not only disturbing neighbors but also interrupting sleep. At the same time, dogs barking randomly can be very annoying. So what to do about dogs barking randomly? How to correct dogs barking randomly?

Barking and whining are completely natural behaviors. We should understand dogs’ barking this way: in the wild world, there are no apartments separated by thin walls, no noise prohibition laws, and no neighbors sleeping during the day. In the natural environment, puppies bark or whine to let the mother dog know they are hungry or feel lonely, but at home, this uncontrollable instinct can drive people crazy.

A dog crate is a place for puppies to eat and sleep. Many dog owners choose wicker baskets to mimic a dog’s natural nest. Carefully designed wicker baskets can help solve problems like toilet training and teething, and also help dogs overcome barking caused by loneliness. A wicker basket can quickly make puppies feel comfortable when alone, but wicker baskets limit puppies’ field of vision, so they cannot determine if you are nearby; you need to gradually teach them to adapt to being alone. A simple training process is to first feed the puppy inside the wicker basket. At first, leave the basket open, allowing the puppy to stay inside voluntarily; after about one week, close the entrance during feeding time.

Puppies often do not bark when sleeping or in a dim place. Sometimes just covering the wicker basket with a blanket can entice puppies to sleep or stay quiet. If you fix the food inside the wicker basket, regularly closing or opening the entrance, and leave the room during the whole process, the puppy will happily lick the food, using food to distract attention and gradually develop the habit of being alone and staying quiet when no one is around.

Note, wicker baskets, like all other tools, should not be abused. Leaving a dog at home in a wicker basket while shopping is acceptable, but locking it in the basket for up to 10 hours a day is somewhat excessive.

Although it is all barking, the reasons vary. Some bark because they feel their territory is being invaded, using barking to warn intruders; some want to get the owner's attention or remind the owner it’s time to walk; others bark out of fear of loud noises, etc.

To correct the bad habit of random barking, targeted measures must be taken according to the behavior’s motive. For example, if you find the dog barks randomly at pedestrians or vehicles outside the window, you can intentionally take it to crowded places during walks to help it get used to the environment. Simply ordering the dog to stop without investigating the reason won’t be effective.

Only by carefully identifying the cause of barking and adopting appropriate methods can the random barking bad habit be effectively corrected.

If the dog barks randomly out of wariness of guests, with the guest’s help, it can be made aware that the guest is not a dangerous person. The owner can pet the dog to keep it calm while letting the guest feed it treats. Some dogs bark when they hear the phone ringing; special training can be applied by having family members deliberately sound the phone, and the owner feeding treats and gently patting the dog to keep it calm during the ringtone.

If the dog constantly barks randomly, it must be strictly scolded, but after scolding, if it stops barking, it must be comforted and praised properly. This is the correct way to discipline. When the dog barks, you can lift the leash sharply to give a stern warning and scold it, telling it not to bark randomly. If the dog stops barking after being scolded, say "Very good, good boy/girl," and give praise.