Barking

All over the country animal shelters are full of dogs given up because of barking or digging.  These animals are losing their lives daily because of two behaviors that naturally come with being a dog.  Before you make the decision to add a dog to your family, remember that dogs behave like dogs and these two behaviors may be a part of dog ownership.

Dogs bark for many reasons.  Dogs bark when they are excited, they bark when they are startled, they bark when they are bored and they bark when they are happy.  However, dogs that bark incessantly can be annoying to you and drive your neighbors crazy.

The first thing you as a dog owner can do to keep barking at bay is to make sure your dog is well exercised.  A tired dog is a happy and content dog and meeting his need for aerobic stimulation will help curb a barking problem.  Most pet dogs in the United States are under-exercised and this can lead to many problems including excessive barking.

Another way to solve a barking problem is your dog’s environment.  Some dogs bark when visually stimulated.  People on bikes, other dogs and running children can easily stimulate a fit of barking in your dog.  If possible keep dogs in the back yard, not the front and use a privacy fence.  Dogs are much less likely to bark if kept in the house while you are gone. If your home has large windows, use curtains or blinds to lessen the stimulation. Leave a radio or TV on when you are out to mask outside noises.

Another mistake we make when we live with a dog is rewarding behaviors that we then find annoying and problematic. Do not reward your puppy who is barking like crazy to be let out of a crate or let into the house from the yard. Wait until she is quiet or distracted and then allow her in or out.  We think it is cute when a puppy runs to the pantry and barks for a treat, but later when your 80lb friend is doing this several times a day we are not amused.  Remember do not reward or reinforce behaviors you do not want.

Dogs left alone many hours a day need things to do to occupy their time until you return.  Give him toys, chews, or a play buddy and he will be less likely to stimulate himself with barking. Hire someone to take your dog on a short walk during the middle of the day or play with her for awhile.

Barking can become a serious problem. Using all or some of these ideas you can start today to help your best friend become a quieter member of your family.

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