A dog's bark is a warning sign that should be heeded by the animal's owners. It can signify the dog's longing to play with the owner, displeasure (or hunger), or the presence of an intruder. Useful as a dog's bark is, it gets rather annoying when it goes on for some time, especially during the wee hours of night. Instead of getting insomnia from the noise, better pull the plug on excessive barking and fast.

Every Bark has a Reason

When stopping a dog's barking episode, you must learn to identify its needs. Remember, a dog does not bark without reason. It always points to something, which is equivalent to human speech. As the owner, it's your responsibility to do the necessary actions for your dog to stop barking. You'll eventually read its body language anyway. If the barking comes next door, call your neighbor and politely ask him or her to quiet the dog. Don't be disrespectful towards the dog, since he or she is often treated as family.

Noise Begets Noise

Dogs, when excited, forget all about discipline and dog training. The dog can bark non-stop until he or she eventually tires out. If you can't afford to wait for your dog to calm down, might as well give it a dose of its own medicine. Grab a used can of soda and insert several coins. Shake the can to check its noise level. When your dog begins a lengthy barking episode, throw the can with force. The clanking noise will shock your dog, in effect, silencing the poor critter. Give the mutt a good meal after, so he or she won't feel bad.

Relieve Doggy Stress with a Chew Toy

Barking, in most cases, is a sign of stress. Dealing with stress involves release, which works well for both dogs and humans. For dogs, the chew toy comes as a form of releasing excessive tension. Throw it in front of a barking pooch. The dog, in turn, bites at the toy bone until much of the stress has been released. Moments later, your pet will be back to his or her old obedient self.

Give a Stern Order to Stop

If dogs love to bark out loud, effective owners can be far worse, when needed. The dog, not having the ability of speech, is a master of recognizing vocal tones and reading body language. Think of a good command for making the dog pipe down, such as "Quiet," "Stop," "Hey," or "Quit Barking!" When your pet starts barking, shout the command accompanied by a displeased gesture. If the dog does not stop, be patient and continue issuing the order. He or she will eventually get your drift. As much as possible, try to stay constant with your order, so your dog can pick it up quickly.

Water Spray

Not all animals adore being sprayed with water. The same goes for some dogs. In cases where the dog simply refuses to follow orders, fill a small spray bottle with water. Order the pooch to stop barking with the bottle raised. If it still refuses to follow, repeat the order, this time much louder then spray the several times, until he or she quits making noise. Do this method only when your pet is becoming uncontrollable, otherwise he or she might feel oppressed.

Hire a Professional Dog Trainer

Dog trainers are highly-skilled in teaching dogs cool tricks and making them follow orders. If you are not willing to go through the hassle of teaching your pet some manners, let a professional do it for you. For a certain a fee, the dog trainer assigns a "quiet" command, which your pooch will follow. Basic tricks like rolling over, fetching stuff, and sitting will also be taught. The trainer will, then, teach you all the commands and the accompanying gestures to make your pet obedient and well disciplined. (In case you want to teach your dog yourself, learn how to train your puppy)

Strike Some Sense into Your Dog

Hitting a dog is inadvisable, since it can make the animal tremendously upset or frightened after. However, if all the previous methods fail, you can hit the dog with a sandal or a rolled newspaper. Don't strike the pooch too hard, or else he or she might not feel loved and decide to run away from home. Tap your pet with just enough force to grab his or her attention while shouting the order to quit barking. Once the dog pipes down, give him or her a treat or a fine meal. Your pet will, then, know that a grave act was committed and you are pleased that it was stopped at that very moment.

An Obedient Pet is a Best Friend

Teaching a dog to quit barking on cue may take time and much effort, but the ordeal is all worth it. In the end, you'll have a better relationship with your pet, as the roles, "pet" and "pet owner" are clearly established. That's the time when you can really call your pooch, "man's best friend."