Inappropriate barking is one of the most annoying behaviors dog owners have to deal with—whether your dog starts up in the middle of night or barks at every little wisp of air, the first thing you must do to stop the problem is identify what’s causing the behavior. To do this, you have to understand a little about why dogs do what they do. As much as you may not want to believe it, dogs always have a reason for doing what they do—including barking.
If you’re not sure what sets your dog off, you have some homework to do. If, like most owners, you are away from home when the barking occurs, you should invest in a remote monitoring system that alerts you when it detects noise. Most of these systems also record the event so if you’re not able to log in right away and see what’s upset your dog, you can watch the event later.
Here are some of the most common reasons why dogs bark and solutions on how you can fix the problem:
If your dog is just a “talker” by nature (you’ll often see this with hunting dogs and other specific breeds), then you’ll have to work a little harder to stop the ongoing communication. The first thing is to keep your dog engaged with other items (such as chew toys, smart toys and or even a two-way talk system that rewards your dog for not barking).
Smart dog toys will also go a long ways toward stopping your dog from barking. Consider leaving a Kong or BusyBuddy toy to keep him busy while you’re away. There are myriad interactive dog toys designed specifically to keep pets active and engaged.
Anxiety: Anxiety is another reason dogs bark. They might be missing their human companions, they might be fearful being left alone or they might be wondering if their owners will ever return. The noise your dog makes actually reinforces the behavior—he might be barking to “self-soothe.” Anxious barks tend to get higher in pitch as a dog becomes more upset, which can become particularly upsetting to neighbors (and your neighbor’s dogs).
The most valuable thing you can do to stop barking is to keep your dog tired with plenty of mental stimulation. You can use smart toys, chew toys and activities (e.g., agility or new tricks training), as well as providing him with new sensory data, such as long walks or hiking. In addition, doggie daycare is a great way to get your hyper or stressed-out dog active and more socially comfortable with other dogs.
About the Author: Stacy Mantle is a fulltime freelance writer, bestselling author and founder of PetsWeekly.com. She resides in the deserts of the Southwest with a few dogs, several cats and a very understanding husband.
How a Veterinary Assistant Program Can Boost Your Career Prospects in the Animal Care…
How to Train Your Puppy from the Experts If you have recently acquired an…
Fur, Fins, Feathers, and Fangs: 50 Careers for Animal Lovers Many people who have…
Working as a veterinary assistant is a great way to help animals in need. For…
When most people consider the best and worst states to work in, they’re thinking about…