Assessment and treatment of excessive barking in the domestic dog.

Barking is a normal and common method of communication in the domestic dog, but it can become a problem behavior in specific circumstances. Excessive barking can be a mild annoyance or a severe problem, particularly if the owner is under pressure from other people to stop the dog's behavior. Preventive measures could reduce the likelihood of the behavior becoming problematic. Correctly assessing the motivation behind a dog's excessive barking once it becomes a problem is crucial to the implementation of a successful treatment regimen. Veterinarians should be prepared to give practical advice to clients in both instances, because the recommendations could improve the chance of the dog staying in the household.