managing barking

[7/29/10] I can't believe I didn't have a separate entry for this. Well, I supposed barking advice is scattered throughout this blog.

Anyway, I've created this because terry pride @ dogbehaviourscience passed along this article about getting barking under control by Andrea Arden.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS DOGS BARK?

It is important to understand why dogs bark so you will be able to deal with the root of the problem rather than just the symptom. Three of the most common reasons include to act as an alarm to potential intruders (which many pet parents encourage), due to stress and/or boredom when left alone, and to get attention and elicit play. The last is a reason that is often inadvertently trained by owners who open the door, give a treat, speak to or pet their dog when he or she barks and tend to ignore the dog when he or she is quiet. Barking is a normal part of dog behavior, so the goal is not to create a barkless dog, rather to be able to manage barking so that it does not become excessive and disturbing to us or our neighbors. In most cases, we tend to confuse our dogs by encouraging (albeit inadvertantly) barking in some cases and then punishing our dogs for it at other times. So, to avoid confusing dogs with inconsistency make a behavior modification plan that the whole family agrees to adhere to.

ARE THERE ANY TECHNIQUES OWNERS CAN USE TO HELP PUT AN END TO THEIR DOG'S BARKING?

1. Try to identify the cause so that you can deal with the underlying cause. Barking is a perfectly normal behavior and dogs bark for many reasons. First, try to determine the potential underlying cause. Then:

2. Provide your dog with plenty of mental exercise in the form of environmental enrichment. Feed them exclusively from food stuffable toys such as the Linkable, Bob-A-Lot, Busy Buddy Twist n' Treat, Activity Ball, etc. A dog who burns up mental energy 'hunting' for their food rather than just eating it from a bowl is less likely to indulge in many inappropriate behaviors, including excessive barking. This is especially useful when you aren't home.

3. Teach your dog to respond reliably to a few requests such as hand targeting (show). This way you have a way to calmly redirect your dog to an appropriate behavior and stop the barking. If you focus on reward based training it will be a fun game for your dog and you and result in a mannerly dog who you can control even when the dog is simulated to bark.

4. Make sure your dog also has adequate outlets for their physical and social needs (i.e. plenty of walks and playtime with other dogs when appropriate).

5. Until your dog has had time to learn to better respond to you, create a calm resting place for her to stay for short periods when you can't watch her and are concerned she may bark at the door or window. A crate is a good option and you should feed meals in there so your dog associates it with something good.

6. Also, practice tethering on a leash in different spots in the home with a chew toy so your dog learns to self-pacify

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[8/26/11] What Your Dog's Bark Is Telling You

5 tips for handling nuisance barking