Shush! How to stop your dog from barking incessantly

Why do dogs bark at the fence when their owner is nearby? It could be that they are defending their territory or telling other dogs to keep their distance. Photo: dpa

Some dogs are especially excitable. Any time someone rings the doorbell or knocks, Fido barks as if his life were in danger. But why does he do that? And is there a way to get him to stop?

Barking is how dogs communicate with each other and express themselves. It’s totally normal, and some dogs are specifically bred to bark a lot – hounds, for example, bark to show their owners where the hunted game lies.