It’s frustrating: you just want to enjoy some nice bonding and playtime with your pup, but your dog won’t stop barking for the ball the entire time. Why do they do this? What makes dogs bark for their ball so crazily, and why do they bark while playing ball in general? Should you even keep playing with your dog when they do this?

Well, you probably already know that this is a very common issue with dogs, but you’ll be happy to learn that the solution for how to stop your dog barking for the ball is proven, and by using it, you’ll see changes in your dog in a very short period of time. So without further ado, keep reading and we’ll get to what you came here for in this article “How to Stop Dog Barking for Ball!”

How to Stop Your Dog Barking for the Ball

To stop your dog barking for the ball, immediately halt play and give them a calm but firm “quiet” command while holding the ball behind your back. Next, wait until they’ve settled down. Once they have, give your dog praise in a positive tone of voice, and you can then resume play by throwing the ball. Be consistent, patient, and ensure others are following these steps too.

These steps will get your dog to stop barking for their ball, but it’s important to remember that the underlying behavioral issue (dominance) that was causing all of this to begin with will still be present. And until you address it, any positive changes you see are only going to be temporary.

“So, how can I make them last then?”

By getting your dog to truly choose to follow your direction, that’s how. I tried many times to write out how you can do that before deciding it made more sense to just link you to the free video series that explains it better than I’d ever be able to.

The series is by a man named Dan who is one of the world’s leading dog obedience trainers. In it, he teaches you how to put an end to things like when your dog is barking for their ball and all other misbehavior using his fast and easy-to-follow methods.

In the first video, Dan will reveal to you why the two most common methods of dog training only doom you to failure. You can watch the video now by clicking here. Follow the proven system he’ll show you in his series and you’ll never have to spend another second worrying about your dog barking for their ball ever again!

Why Does My Dog Bark for the Ball?

Your dog barks for the ball because they are very excited. They are having a great time playing fetch with you, and are trying to encourage you to continue the game by throwing the ball again. While not a huge issue, you should wait until your dog has settled before throwing the ball again.

Giving into your dog barking for the ball will only encourage more of the behavior. This is known as demand barking, and you do not want to give your dog the impression that this is something that works for them or you will only get more of it.

If you do, your dog will believe that they are in charge of you, and soon you’ll have them barking at the doorbell, barking at you when you eat, and barking early in the morning for no reason at all. To learn how to stop your dog from barking for the ball and at other times, go back to the first section of this article.

Why Do Dogs Bark When Playing Ball?

Dogs bark when playing ball because they get very excited from playing, but also frustrated when you take the ball away from them and they aren’t getting it back from you quickly enough. You might also notice your dog barking at other dogs to get them to let go of it so they can have the ball back.

Dogs are cursorial mammals, meaning they like to (and need) to run around, but there should still be limits during playtime. Barking uncontrollably while playing ball is not only annoying but could also provoke another dog into a fight if you’re not careful. We’ll went over how to stop this obnoxious barking behavior in the first section of this article.

Should I Keep Playing if My Dog Barks for the Ball?

You should not keep playing if your dog barks for the ball. Stop briefly and give them a calm but firm “quiet” command. Hold the ball behind your back and wait until they settle down. Stay relaxed and be patient. Once your dog has quieted, give them praise in a positive tone of voice, and then you can throw the ball again.

You’ll have to be consistent and likely repeat this many times, but your dog should learn that barking for the ball has the opposite effect of what they want. Ensure that anyone else who plays with your dog is also following this to keep them on track.

You will still want to address what was causing them to feel like they could bark and demand the ball from you, however. Go back to the first section now where we’ll tell you how to do that.

I’m sure you’re looking forward to being able to have a headache-free game of fetch with your four-legged friend, so I’ll let you get started on things. Best wishes with everything, and thank you for reading “How to Stop Dog Barking for Ball!”