Barking is one of the most common frustrations for dog owners—but it’s also one of the most misunderstood behaviours. In this episode of The Dog People Pod, Jack and professional trainer Max O’Neil explore the many different reasons dogs bark. Whether it's alert barking, boredom, frustration, fear, excitement, or simply a way to get your attention, every bark tells a story.

Before you can effectively address the behaviour, you need to understand the why behind it. This episode is all about identifying which type of barking your dog is doing, and why recognising the root cause is crucial before you attempt to correct it. Max shares real-world examples and key insights to help you decode your dog’s vocal cues, setting the stage for deeper dives into each barking type in future episodes.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why won’t my dog stop barking?”—this is where your journey to peace and quiet begins.

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Your dog listens at home, but ignores you at the park? You might be stuck between stages. This week, Max explains the four stages of learning every dog owner needs to know—starting with Teaching the behaviour, moving into Training it with intent, Proofing it under real-world pressure, and finally Maintaining it so it lasts. Jack shares real-life examples from his journey with Kira, and together they break down how to get from "kind of knows it" to "nails it every time."

1. Teaching – Introducing your dog to a new behaviour.
2. Training – Repeating it with clarity, structure and expectation.
3. Proofing – Testing it with distance, duration, and distraction.
4. Maintenance – Keeping the behaviour sharp for life.

Whether you're raising a new pup or trying to take your current dog to the next level, this is the training framework that works.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.