How to stop barking. What actually works (and what usually doesn't)
One thing I've learned is that "stop barking" isn't really the problem.
Most dogs bark for a reason. Some are bored. Some want attention. Some hear every leaf move outside the window and take their neighborhood security job way too seriously.
The biggest mistake I see people make is yelling. To a dog, it can sound like you're joining in. Training experts generally recommend figuring out why the barking is happening first instead of trying to suppress it.
A few things that tend to help:
If your dog barks for attention, don't reward the barking. Wait for a moment of silence, then reward that instead.
If your dog barks at people outside, limit access to the trigger when possible and teach an alternative behavior like going to a bed or mat.
If your dog is bored, more physical exercise and mental stimulation often reduce barking better than any command.
Teaching a "quiet" cue can work, but it takes repetition and rewarding silence, not punishment.
Something I found interesting is that many trainers focus less on stopping the noise and more on changing what causes it in the first place. If the dog is anxious, frustrated, or overstimulated, simply preventing barking doesn't solve the underlying issue.
For people who dealt with excessive barking, what ended up making the biggest difference for your dog?