It is a fact, dogs bark for communication purposes. Some breeds bark more than other breeds but all dogs bark sometimes. It is when a dog barks excessively and without what seems to be a good reason that everyone gets annoyed. We all want communication from our dogs but nobody wants a dog that barks and barks for no apparent reason.

There are usually a couple of reasons why a dog will bark excessively. One of the main reasons why a dog barks is because of boredom. Dogs are pack animals, they enjoy daily exercise, interacting with others and social stimulation. If they are spending most of their time being cooped up in the house or even outdoors in the same yard everyday they may need more stimulation. Try taking your dog for more walks around the block or institute some structured playtime every day. This may stop your dog from excessive barking if he barks out of boredom.Dogs will bark when they are nervous or scared. Some dogs are never properly socialized and therefore the smallest thing can frighten them. While you are training your dog take him to a few different places and have him be around a variety of people. Reward him when he is quiet and well behaved. A food treat will do wonders to keep him contained in different places and different situations. Soon he will start associating being quiet and well behaved with the treat and this will work wonders towards his excessive barking under these conditions.Dogs often bark to get your attention and this is a great way to communicate. However, if you respond to barking every time you are just teaching your dog to bark more. Try to get him to communicate in other ways and reinforce that behavior with praise and treats. He can rub on your leg if he wants to go outside just as easy as he can bark at you!Sometimes your dog will bark excessively because you have left home and you are not with him. This barking from separation anxiety is disturbing to the neighbors and others so it is wise to try to eliminate it. Start when he is a puppy and crate him when you leave so he can learn to be happy in his own space. Also never make a big issue out of leaving home but rather just sneak away quietly. He may never know that you are gone and if he does he will not be so vocal about it.Dogs bark when they want to protect the ones that they love. This is most often considered to be a good thing unless your dog is barking excessively to protect you from the mailman (or mail person!) every single day! In that case try to distract your dog with a treat or a game. You can also introduce your dog to the mailman. If he becomes friendly with the people who come by most often then he is less likely to bark excessively. If your dog barks for protection though, you should be grateful as someday you may find yourself in a circumstance where you need that.You can teach your dog not to bark excessively. A dog trainer can offer you some tips but usually more socialization and more playtimes do wonders to stop excessive barking. Your dog is barking for a reason though, so it is wise to figure out the reason why and adjust your training to that.Dogs who only bark at proper times are much less frustrating than dogs that bark excessively. Start training your dog away from excessive barking when he is still a pup and when he is all grown up you will know when he barks he has a good reason.