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Dog Barking 101Here's the deal on dog barking. Are you ready? We bark for a reason! Yes, we are indeed animals, but none of us are dumb enough that we are randomly barking just to annoy you or the neighbors. It's important for me to point this out, because there are some dog barking "solutions" out there that attempt to treat the symptom (dog barking) without getting to the source of what is motivating us to be a bit noisy. Most of these "high tech" solutions that treat the symptom are designed around a negative reinforcement training method and built into a "bark collar." Negative Reinforcement ApproachHere's how it would work on me. Ok, if I am wearing one of these collars, when I bark, the collar senses and picks up the noise. Then, it does something to me that I don't like.Since this happens every time I get loud (as set, depending upon the device), I start to associate the "bad thing" with the noise and learn to get quiet.
"Don't tase me, Bro!" What are the "bad things?" They include collars that spray citronella (really smells bad and annoys the daylights out of me), ones that emit a high frequency sound that my dog ears hate, and also ones that use electric stimulation. Why is it that some of you people are enamored with "electric shock therapy" for us?!? I know, a bit of dog drama. But really, you're treating the dog barking symptom and not the cause. "Low Tech" & NegativeThere are also many "low tech" solutions put into practice out there in the land of dog by folks that just want the barking to stop.Some try "dog barking training," by spending a bit of time with their dog and offering negative reinforcement by grasping, and holding their dog's mouth closed after it barks, then giving some highly intelligent command like, "No," "Quiet," or Bad dog," - which is my favorite. Duh! The time efficient version of this approach is to simply muzzle the dog. Lovely way to bond with your pet. Another "low tech," solution is to hang out with the dog or to run outside, if that is where the crime is being committed, and "punish" it by spraying water on the criminal with a hose or spray bottle. Bath time for dog barking? By the way, some breeds, like herding dogs, may tend to bark more than others. Hopefully, you did your research before inviting your dog into your family. Consider the CauseEnough with treating the symptom via negative reinforcement training. Not the best approach. Spray me with water from a hose or give me a little "negative stimulus" from my collar and I may be quiet. But, who's to say that the feelings that were causing the barking will not be channeled into some other unwanted behavior? Don't make me hate my collar!What causes the nuisance dog barking? And, how do you solve it from there? Let's use some dog-sense and understand a few things to solve the problem. We bark for different reasons. But, essentially, we are probably bored, most definitely not getting enough exercise or may even be suffering from separation anxiety. If you really stop and think about it, you should be able to figure it out pretty easily. Then, begin to treat the cause. Give your furry friend your time. Take him for a good, long walk EVERY DAY. It's good to do it at the same time every day too, because we love a doggie ritual we can count on. And, after awhile, you won't even have to think about it. We will remind you when it's time to go! What About the Neighbor with the Barking Dog?Now, one last dog barking thought. What do you do if you have a neighbor who keeps their dog outside and it's driving you crazy with the barking?I am certainly not an expert in human relations, but my suggestion is to take your neighbor some cookies or cup cakes (people love treats too!) and explain to them why their dog might be behaving that way and help them to understand what they can do about it. If they are elderly, or there are other issues that prevent them from exercising their pup, maybe you could walk their dog for them. It's a good way to welcome more friends into your life, both dog and human! Recommended ReadingFor more information on understanding and solving canine behavioral problems, check out SitStayFetch.It’s a complete how-to manual for dog owners, and is packed with just about all the information you’ll ever need on dog psychology, canine communication how-to’s, practical advice for dealing with problem behaviors, and detailed step-by-step guides to obedience training.
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