Barking
Barking is communication, and a normal behavior for dogs. Dogs will bark for several reasons. Some dogs are naturally predisposed with behavioral characteristics such as excitability or watchdog barking. Excitable breeds unless trained early can become excessive barkers. Guarding breeds will naturally start to bark around the time of adolescence when people approach the property.
If you have a breed that is genetically predisposed with behavioral characteristics such as excitability or watchdog barking, you will not be completely successful in changing the dog's behavior unless you started with this dog at 8-weeks of age. By starting early you have a greater influence on your dog’s behavior as an adult. Although you cannot change a dog’s character, you can change a dog's behavior to varying degrees. Since it is not appropriate to try and fix or correct normal, you need to learn to understand what purpose the barking serves and how to influence the behavior. If excessive barking is the result of boredom, fear, attention seeking or a learned behavior, you can affect change in the dog's behavior. Dogs that have a fulfilling life full of experiences to maintain their mental, physical, and emotional health are less likely to develop inappropriate behaviors that are the result of boredom, stress, and frustration. Dogs need to have the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors such as running, digging, following scents and playing. Engage all of your dogs' senses, to make their days more interesting. Dogs commonly display behaviors out of stress, anxiety, and frustration such as, barking, jumping, spinning, chewing, among others. Boredom and loneliness are sources of excessive stress for both dogs and cats. A dog needs; attention, social interaction, exercise, and mental stimulation in addition to food and water.
Noise & Sound Desensitization
If barking is inappropriate or excessive you must determine why your dog is barking.
Barking is communication so you need to learn to listen in order to understand. When does the barking occur? What is the context and circumstances when the barking occurs?
Social Barking
Response to other dogs barking
In invite play
Attention seeking
This is often a learned behavior taught by owners
Owners will often shape the barking to be more intense and frequent. Dogs often learn that they only get attention or let into the house with frequent and intense barking.
Excitement
Greeting
Play soliciting
Going out for walk or play
Frustration
Territorial – protection of property
Protection - of others
Separation
Isolation
Boredom
Distress
Fears, Phobia, & Reactivity
Dogs can react by barking to specific sounds or any sound outside the home. Dogs will respond or react in differing ways to sounds. There is a big difference in responding and reacting. In this context responding is functional and reacting dysfunctional. We would prefer to hear a doctor say we are responding to the medication rather than reacting to the medication.
If you have a dog that over-reacts to sounds there is guidance here on how to desensitize your dog to specific sounds. Soundtracks are a tool to help desensitize dogs to noises that result in fearful reactions, agitated reactions, or highly excitable reactions. Guidance can be found here: Fears, Phobias & Reactivity
Fearful - Barking at People
Learned Barking
Is barking worst when owners are home?
Owners will often shape the barking to be more intense and frequent. Dogs often learn that they only get attention or let into the house with frequent and intense barking.
If excessive barking is the result of boredom, fear, attention seeking or a learned behavior, you can affect change in the dog's behavior.
BARK COLLARS
We do not recommend any type of bark collars. These collars to not distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate barking. In our view it is never appropriate to punish a dog for appropriate behavior. Dogs have enough challenges learning to live with us without us adding confusion.
De-barking should never be considered.
You may need to:
Give your dog more attention.
Keep your dog inside when you are not able to supervise his outdoor time.
Limit your dogs view of the things that cause him to bark; close curtains/blinds, screen off areas, use window film, and limit access to areas.
Get your dog used to events that trigger the barking. How to properly desensitize your dog without overwhelming them.
Mask noises with the use of a radio or television. (See the “management” section)
Teach your dog to spend time alone, or away from you.
Teach your dog a quiet command. Put the barking under your control. "The Dog Vinci Code" (Chapter 25, page 158)
Give your dog safe items to entertain themselves with. Dog Toys
For more ideas to entertain your dog, go to the "Enriching Your Dog's Life" page.
BLOCK OUTSIDE VIEW WITH OPAQUE FILM
BLOCK VIEW WITH BLACKOUT FILM
Find information on any (almost) topic or for specific products.
start your search here: “Search”
e.g. ants, behavior problems, collars, dog food, fleas, harnesses, health, housetraining, marking, medical, separation anxiety, socialization, ticks, toys, vaccinations, whistles, yellow spots on lawn, etc.. (You get the idea)