In discussing ways to stop dog barking, there are several factors that will guide your choice of training methods and tools.
It is important to understand the breed of dog, to establish why a dog is barking, and then to decide the best way to handle the problem.
Finally, there are now solutions to the problem of the neighbor's dogs being the ones doing the barking.
Understanding the breed characteristics is most important.
Many working dogs are bred to have constant employment and lots of exercise, so they may bark when left alone or when bored.
Toy and lap dogs are bred to be cute, with puppy-like traits for all their life, and puppies like to bark.
A Great Pyrenees instinctively barks to warn off predators; Huskies bark while running down the trail in a team; Jack Russell terriers are designed to run with the hunt, not to lie quietly at home.
You need to stop dog barking as soon as possible.
You will need to give your best friend all the exercise it needs, as well as quality time with you, before you can label barking as a problem.
If a dog that should be working is bored, it is not the dog's fault.
If the pet needs two miles of running or walking twice a day, think of all the good it is doing your waistline and thighs.
If you cannot run, you and your dog both need to learn to play catch.
Only reward quiet, good behavior.
With your persistence and communication, any dog can learn to express itself in other ways.
For example, when you meet another dog on a walk, kneel down, put your arm around your dog, let it know you see the other dog, and encourage it to keep quiet.
When you stop dog barking, it will not be long before your pet can learn to watch another dog pass by in silence.
It is much harder to train a dog if you yourself are distracted.
Do not try to train one dog while leading another as well.
Give the target dog your whole attention.
If you cannot stop dog barking while you are not home, give it enough exercise to tire it out.
Give it a chew bone or other distraction for the lonely hours, and crate or pen it where it will not see activity nearby and start barking in response.
One way to stop dog barking is by using a barking collar.
This will work for some dogs but not all.
If you want to try this option, choose the appropriate size for your dog.
Some collars work with electric shocks and some use a citronella spray, triggered by the barking action.
The idea is that a dog will learn that barking causes a reaction it wants to avoid.
Most dogs will still bark aggressively if they sense danger.
Ultrasonic devices use a high frequency sound to discourage repetitive barking.
Many work at long range so you can stop dog barking from your neighbor's pet without having to interact directly with either dog or owner.
You can also use the device with your own dog, and if it has a remote control, you can use it to discourage other bad habits as well.
There are ways to stop dog barking.
Responsible owners will focus first on the dog's well-being, secondly on training, and as a last result seek a mechanical training aid.