You need to get the lawn watered, and you want your pup to spend some time outside, but you can’t because your dog keeps barking at the sprinklers! Why do they act like this? Why do dogs bark at sprinklers? Are dogs scared of sprinklers? How careful do you need to be? Can dogs get hurt by sprinklers?

We’re going to answer each and every one of these questions for you today. We’ll also, of course, go over how to stop your dog barking at the sprinklers. It won’t be long until this frustration is all behind you for good. Keep reading below for our article “How to Stop Dog Barking at Sprinkler!”

How to Stop Dog Barking at Sprinkler

To get your dog to stop barking at sprinklers, you’ll need to teach them to become quiet on command. For us to do that, take your dog somewhere you know they’ll want to bark like the park, with plenty of dog treats. Leave them on their leash and stay a good distance away from the other people and animals there.

As soon as your dog barks, say “quiet” in a positive and calm voice. If they give you their attention, then reward them with a small treat and praise right away. But if they quickly start barking again or never even stop, then you should put a treat inside of your fist.

Put your hand very close to your dog’s nose. Your dog will still be able to smell the treat even within your hand and will quit their barking to investigate the scent. Once they’ve become quiet and are also giving you their complete attention, again issue the “quiet” command and then open your hand to give them their praise and a treat.

If your dog keeps staying silent, keep rewarding them with a treat and praise. But if they resume barking again, regardless of whether it’s at someone at the park or at you, repeat the steps of placing a treat within your fist, putting it right by their nose, and then waiting until they’ve become silent.

Be sure that you’re waiting until your dog has become quiet before you give them their rewards. This helps create a positive connection for your dog with giving you their attention and getting silent any time you say “quiet.” Reward them with treats and praise right away when your dog is doing what they should.

With repetition, patience, and consistency, your dog will become silent simply by you giving them the command, and you will no longer need to place your hand by their mouth. You should then begin lengthening the amount of time before you give them any rewards. Start with just a few seconds, then move that up to 5 seconds, and so on.

Before long, the food rewards and praise won’t be necessary and your dog will quit barking at the sprinklers or at anything else solely by giving the “quiet” command.

This will get your dog to stop barking at the sprinkler, but you can’t forget that the issues which were causing all of this in the first place (dominance and anxiety) will still be present. And you absolutely must address those, because not doing so means that your dog will continue suffering and misbehaving in different (possibly worse) ways.

And to do that, we must first talk about what makes dogs tick and has for thousands and thousands of years now. I’m sure you’ve heard before that all dogs are pack animals, and that in every pack there is a pack leader.

But when your dog barks at sprinklers, they are clearly telling you that they have no respect for you as the head of the family pack.

If they did, they wouldn’t bark at the sprinkler and disobey you when told to quit. They wouldn’t display any other types of anxiety or dominance-related misbehavior. And they would obey your commands as soon as they’re given, and they would do so happily.

Show your dog that you are not just their pack leader, but one worthy of respect, and you’ll make all of these great things a reality.

You’ll win for obvious reasons. But your dog will be the real winner here because you’ll have freed them from all of the confusion and worry that their problems with anxiety and dominance are currently placing on them 24/7.

Sounds like a wonderful thing, wouldn’t you agree?

“Yes, definitely, but how do I do this then?”

You should watch a tremendous free video series by a renowned trainer named Dan which is on this exact subject: how to be your dog’s pack leader. In Dan’s series, he explains everything in ways that are very easy to understand and teach to your own dog, and he gets immediately to the point so that you can start seeing these important changes in your dog in no time.

Start watching Dan’s free training series now by clicking here. And don’t worry, because no, you’re not going to have to be mean or yell at your dog. Dan uses only 100% humane and loving teaching techniques at all times. Not just because they’re the right thing to do, but also because they’re the fastest way to achieve permanent changes in your dog’s behavior.

Why Do Dogs Bark at Sprinklers?

Dogs bark at sprinklers either due to anxiety, or dominance, or they’re simply trying to play. Sprinklers can pop out of nowhere surprising and frightening more timid dogs, who will respond by barking. Dominant dogs may see it as their duty to protect their territory from these strange objects, which would also result in barking.

A common explanation, though, is just that your dog is barking at sprinklers because they’re playing. Many dogs bark when they’re excited and happy, and a sprinkler that produces water that can be bitten or chased would certainly make many feel this way. If this is the case, their bark should be more high-pitched.

The only real issue occurs when your dog barks at sprinklers and refuses to listen when you’ve had enough and tell them to stop. A refusal of commands like this is disobedient and if not treated immediately will only lead to further issues with behavior and barking.

You’ll soon see that your dog is barking uncontrollably at other times and at other objects that are fun or surprising. Your dog will bark for their ball, bark at your microwave, bark at your toaster, and might even bark at your blender. Pretty much anything will do if you don’t get a handle on this now.

To learn how to stop your dog barking at sprinklers and anything else — all just by giving a single command — go back to the first section now where we’ll teach you exactly what to do.

Are Dogs Scared of Sprinklers?

Dogs are scared of sprinklers depending on their temperament. Most will not be, though you will see more timid and easily surprised dogs being scared by them. Some dogs will find the way they pop out of the ground scary. For the most part, however, dogs are not scared of sprinklers.

Many will even find them fun to play with, particularly if they’re the kind of sprinkler that rotates back and forth or in different directions, leading to a fun game of chase for them. To know if your dog likes playing with the sprinkler and is not trying to “defend” you from it, look for signs like a high-pitched bark, wagging tail, and them doing “play bows.”

Can Dogs Get Hurt by Sprinklers?

Dogs can get hurt by sprinklers, though it’s unlikely. Many dogs will attempt to play with the sprinkler by jumping through it or biting at the water. This could lead to the pressurized water going down their throat, which might end up in their airway restricting their breathing. Dogs that have been bred to have a shorter snout will be particularly vulnerable to this.

I’m sure you’re ready to not worry about your dog around the sprinklers anymore, so I’ll let you get started on things now. Good luck, and thank you for reading our article “How to Stop Dog Barking at Sprinkler”