How To Stop Dogs Barking Excessively
25 Jan 2012
Dog barking is a contentious issue and often a big source of stress between neighbours. For anyone, a dog barking is a horrible noise to hear for even the shortest period and you can understand that when the dog next door barks on and off for a long time like a defective car alarm, it is enough to try anyone’s patience. What we often overlook is that the dog will be barking for a good reason (as far as they’re aware) and it is doubtless just as unsettling for the dog who is experiencing the fear or anxiety.
Working out what causes your dogs barking may be the toughest part of the issue as dogs can bark at the slightest of things. External noise, such as somebody walking past your home will start some dogs barking , however, even in the house, some dog owners find that they can’t leave their dog in a room on their own without them becoming anxious and barking the place down, and the door bell or phone is commonly the cue for an outburst of barking.
Anxiety regularly lies behind a dogs excessive barking, even though on the face of it, it can look more like aggression. So to stop dog barking we need to beginby dealing with any anxiety problems, which will automatically reduce our dogs need to bark.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety is said to affect more than fifteen percent of dogs (and some research says as much as 50%). The anxiety results in numerous behavioural symptoms from a dog pacing the floor, to chewing everything in sight as well as other destructive behaviour. Dog separation anxiety is virtually always the root of a dog barking so much when left home on their own.
Reducing anxiety in dogs can be a lengthy process, dependent on how acute the symptoms are and will require both time and patience on your side. After you have worked out the events that set off the anxiety you’ll be able to use desensitization training to help your dog.
Leading the Pack
Closely linked to separation anxiety is pack leadership. As a pack animal, dogs know there has to be a pack leader, one who is answerable for the security of the remainder of its clan. If one of its charges goes missing, barking is one method of helping them to find their way back. Clever stuff, but then if we stop and realize that the dog could believe itself to be the responsible member of the pack, what does it feel when everybody goes out, locks the door and leaves them in the house alone?
Excessive barking in dogs is much like any concerned parents reaction to a kid which has can not be found. In our anxiety we might scream at the top of our voice in they hope that they can hear us and come running back, so too a dog will try to let the missing pack members know the way to find their way back to the house. This is also why dogs will scratch wildly at the doors or windows, because they would like to get out and come and find you.
How To Stop Dogs Barking
One of the best ways to stop dogs barking is to take back the responsibility for the pack from the dog by showing them you’re the pack leaders and the ones to be trusted.
That doesn’t mean using gadgets like the shock collar every time your dog barks (why punish a dog for doing what it thinks is its job?) or removing its vocal chords (does it change the dog’s mind about its responsibility?) Neither does it mean you have got to dominate your dog by pinning it down or pushing it around. Leadership can be established by showing your dog that you are the decision maker, for instance by always making them sit and wait for their food and only begin eating when you give the go ahead.
It could appear like an indirect way to stop dog barking, but by dealing with both dog separation anxiety and leadership problems you are more likely to bring peace to the household and the neighbourhood too.
Author Venice Marriott is a writer, rescue dog owner and runs a Dog Anxiety website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about how to stop dogs barking, when you visit the site.
