Hi Humans,
Today’s guest writer is Stacy Mantle, Founder of PetsWeekly. Stacy is writing about why dogs bark and what pet parents do about it.
Excessive barking is one of the main reasons that dogs are returned to shelters. These days, barking is considered very disruptful and can result in angry neighbors, expensive citations from HOAs or local police, and even the possibility of being forced to turn your dog over to animal control.
Fortunately, there are many things we can do to stop excessive barking. But before you can stop barking, you must first determine what’s causing the behavior.
Regularly Scheduled Events
In most cases, barking is started by a regular event. This may be kids walking to school, garbage pickups or even a neighbor leaving for work. If you’re not home during the day, ask a caring neighbor to help you out by keeping a record of when your dog is barking or consider adding a sound-activated camera to your home. This will alert you to what might be setting off your dog.
If you’re lucky enough to identify specific times for when your dog barks, you will most benefit from removing your dog from the situation. Schedule a petsitters or dogwalker to come by during the times your dog is most likely to bark and give them a walk or some much-needed playtimes.
Barking all the Time
Entertainment is the number one way to keep your dogs from barking, which is why DogTV fits the bill perfectly! DogTV is programming designed for dogs and will help you keep them entertained for hours on end.
You should also consider bringing a petsitter over or taking your dog to a doggy daycare. These programs are incredibly helpful to dogs who are not getting enough stimulation in their life and are barking because they are bored all day. Call up one of the local dog daycare centers near you and see what types of weekly programs they offer.
Bring In The Toys
Dogs generally bark because they are bored. Introducing a food puzzle bowl (like the Nina Ottosson puzzles) or a treat-dispensing chew toy (like Kong toys that are stuffed with peanut butter or specialty filling) is a great way to keep your dog focused on something else for a few hours. Automated toys like the Pet Cube for real-time fun and interaction with your pet even when you’re not home.
Exercise
Your best weapon against barking is getting your dog too tired to bark. Take your dog for an early morning run before work and again upon your return. Contact a petsitter to come over for a mid-afternoon walk. Follow up with a fast-moving game of tag or a late night walk upon your return home.
The bottom line is that if you don’t give your dog a job to do, he’ll find one on his own and chances are, you won’t like the jobs he finds. It’s up to you to keep your dogs entertained and make sure they don’t become an annoyance to neighbors.
Roddy Reynolds
•2 years ago
This is such baloney! Every suggestion above is feel good fake news! The truth is a dog barks to get the attention of whom or what he wants to communicate too. Body language is a animals language and unless you are looking at the body language, you can not communicate. Barking causes you to look.
If you catch them barking, that is the time to go after them aggressively and tell them that you do not want them to do that. I own a kennel with 40 to 50 dogs that are constantly coming and going with new dogs 7 days a week. You don’t here barking in my kennel and they all hang out in calmness. Just hate hearing this stuff from people that want to fix problems by avoiding the problem and lets just give them a treat and a toy!
Betty Steinmetz
•2 years ago
I would love to try Dog TV. My dog has separation anxiety and I cannot leave him alone in the house because he barks. I hope Dog TV will help him stay by himself for short periods of time
Jeff Ooukki
•2 years ago
This is very information.
Ron
•2 years ago
Our dog barks as a sign of dominance, at least it appears that way. He barks when we watch TV and another dog, or any animal appears on the screen. He also barks at animation, anything non-human. We try to distract him, but he continues, almost like he’s protecting his “pack”.
We have two Pomeranians, the male usually will start and the female joins in. They also bark when the doorbell rings, when they are in the car, almost anything will set them off. Do you have any suggestions or is this a behavior that is innate to this breed?
Thanks, Ron
Lisa Angelo
•2 years ago
What happens if you dog is watching the tv and gets excited and jumps and knocks the tv over?
Sharon A. Shade
•2 years ago
I have a foster who was locked in a crate when his Daddy went to the hospital. No one came to feed him or check on him or let him out to potty. He barked to try to get someone to come to his aid. Instead his Daddy’s drug-addicted daughter broke into the Daddy’s apartment and had a party with her druggie friends. BUT not one let the dog out to feed him, give him water or let him potty. (This dog is VERY fastidious so laying in his own urine and excrement for what was probably 2 weeks had to be terrible). He barks and barks now. But I have shown him that if he needs something, just bark and stop and I will immediately meet his need. He is slowly getting used to the idea that I will provide what he needs. So there are OTHER reasons for barking.
Deborah clarke
•2 years ago
I hate barking dogs. Owners. Are to blame. I don’t own a dog g for that purpose. They’re annoying and disturbing. I’ll call authorities on any constant barking dog!!! Can’t control your dog don’t have one!!!