Dogs bark for many reasons and triggers include
boredom, guarding property, alarm barking, requests for space, and
communication with other dogs in the area.
Dogs also bark during play which is a normal behaviour. When barking
becomes excessive or compulsory you may need to seek assistance from a
professional especially if your dog is destructive, self-harming or
appears to be very stressed or frenzied when barking.
Barking can start as a normal behaviour and very soon become either
self-rewarding or self-soothing. Either way addressing the problem is a
must or you can end up with unhappy neighbours and a very distressed
dog.
If your dog is barking when left alone for more than 5 hours and you
feel this may be due to boredom then consider using a service such as a
doggie daycare or a pet sitter or walker to break up the day. If these
are not feasible then give your dog a job during the day. Get rid of the
food bowl and make your dog work for their dinner. It takes on average 3
minutes for your dog to eat their breakfast from a food bowl. How about
extending that time to up to 4 hours!
The use of KONGs, Treatballs and any food dispensing toys can really
help a dog when they are alone and decrease barking by a huge
percentage. KONG toys can be filled and frozen to last even longer.
Treatballs will dispense their daily ration of food over a longer period
while focusing your dog on something other than barking. The action of
bouncing, licking and chewing the toys can also reduce anxiety. Remove
these toys every evening and put them away when they are not in use so
that they retain their high value.
If your dog is barking when visitors arrive change the association.
Let your dog know that visitors predict good things and there is no
reason to be alarmed. By placing a pot of your dog’s treats by the door
and each time visitors call they deliver a reward your dog is less
likely to feel the need to alarm bark. You can use a ration of your
dog’s regular food for this to prevent over feeding.
If your dog is being triggered to bark by an environmental factor
that you cannot control you may need to consider training around that
external factor so as to desensitise your dog to that stimulus. Teaching
a ‘quiet’ verbal cue can be useful so that you can request quiet from
your dog.
Reinforcing your dog when they do not bark is also highly effective.
Take time to play with your dog in the garden, note the times when your
dog chooses not to bark and reward highly with praise and a treat. Use
the word ‘quiet’ followed by a reward to let your dog what the cue word
‘quiet’ means.
You may need the assistance of a good trainer with some of the
exercises above. If you feel that your dogs barking is excessive and you
need extra help please contact us directly for assistance info@dogtrainingireland.ie