What should I do about a dog who barks too frequently?

Is it your dog? If so, they make collars to correct frequent, unwanted barking. It teaches your dog when it is and isnt acceptable to bark. If its not yours, mention the problem to the owners and suggest the collar to them.

Woops, noticed there was a similar question here:

http://www.fluther.com/disc/1528/effective-methods-to-help-dogs-curb-their-bark/

Citronella collars are quite effective!

get him a shock collar or a muzzle

if your not into shock therapy, drink an aluminium can of soda fill up with pennies “if needed check your sofa cushions for some,” put some tape on the opening, shake it everytime your dog starts barking it will get there attention, work for my dog, for about two weeks until he got the picture, some also use waterguns or a spray bottle, shoot them in the nose. A few methods good luck hope this helps.

if its still a puppy, you can condtion it so that when you say a keyword, it will stop barking. Whenever it barks, just say “no” and tap it on the nose. After about a month of this it will get the idea that barking is bad

I should have asked this first, how old is your dog and what kind is it?

there are a lot of bad answers here.

putting a shock collar on a barking dog is like smacking a piano student every time he hits a wrong note. it is a violent, abusive practice and while it might stop the dog from barking, it will also teach the dog to live in fear.

i feel that a muzzle is equally cruel, but i also have to point out that it only prevents biting, not barking.

the CORRECT way to prevent a dog from barking is to show the dog that she will not get what she wants when she barks. she barks when she’s excited, so try this. when you come home at the end fo the day, and she’s excited to see you, and she’s barking to show her happiness, do not look at her, pet her, greet her in any way until she stops barking. when she sees your strange behavior, she will start trying different approaches to get your attention. do not give in until she stops barking. the moment she’s really quiet, immediately praise her, pet her, love her in every way.

this will take a few days at minimum. do not expect her to stay quiet for long on the first day. instead, slowly work up to longer and longer periods of silence before you praise her.

will work like a charm, it you’re patient. and then you won’t be abusing your dog, and everyone will be happy.

oh, she’s old. and barking right now.

i want to comment on samkusnetz. i’ve heard often that this kind of conditioning works for dogs, but it is very slow and not a surefire method.

i saw on a show called Dog Whisperers that the simple answer is to use a “No Bull Crap” attitude, if you will. if you tell the dog to do something EVERY SINGLE TIME, it will eventually learn. and i don’t mean like after a month or even a few weeks—the Dog Whisperer had each dog doing what it wouldn’t previously do in no more than 3 “takes.”

My advice: tell the dog “NO” sternly everytime it barks. use a spray bottle. do something. be consistent, not passive.

I agree with Sam. Shock collars are cruel and teaches fear. But I’m not sure an older dog will re-learn. His bad behavior has been reinforced too many years.