MY DOG BARKS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

MY DOG BARKS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

One of the behavioral problems that many dog owners encounter is their dog’s barking.

Indeed, a dog that barks continuously all day long can be a real nuisance, especially towards the neighborhood that may not appreciate this noise pollution.

We will therefore see why the dog can bark, and how to solve this problem quickly.

WHY MY DOG BARKS

First of all, we will detail the famous question which is: “Why does my dog bark?”

MY DOG BARKS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Barking can have multiple causes that are specific to each individual:

Fear/reactivity. A dog that is afraid of an element, whether it is a vacuum cleaner or another dog for example, can express itself by barking at it. And yes, the 4 reactions of fear are: flight, immobility, acting crazy or attack. So the dog can react by barking at the trigger. Genetics. Some dogs may have a genetic predisposition towards barking. Let’s take the example of the German Spitz which was used as an alarm for the janitors. These dogs have kept this very present barking side. Be careful, this does not mean that we should let him do it under the pretext that the breed can justify this behavior if it is in excess. A bad conditioning. A dog that barks and can enter his house instantly understands that by barking, he has immediate access to the interior of the house. This is bad training on our part, even if it was not voluntary. We must therefore also be careful about our reactions as humans to the annoying behaviors of our dogs. A dog that is bored. A dog whose needs are not being met can develop behavioral problems such as digging, jumping on people, excessive barking, etc. Barking is still a normal behavior in dogs because it is a way to communicate. It is up to us to be tolerant if it remains occasional. Excitement can also be a factor in barking. A dog that is playing or frustrated because he can’t visit his friends may bark to vent his emotions. So you need to teach your dog that calm can be more interesting than barking. An anxious dog may also bark out of stress while his human is away.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG BARKS?

Once the cause of the barking has been found, we will try to find emergency solutions to put in place to solve this problem:

MY DOG BARKS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Go see a dog trainer who will analyze your situation and give you the right advice. Yes, each case is unique and a dog behavior professional will have the right analysis in order to work your dog correctly so that this inconvenience stops quickly. The dog is an animal that has needs to be fulfilled on a daily basis in order to avoid boredom: going out for a walk every day, having a basket and a reassuring and safe place to live, being able to chew in order to spend time mentally, the family being consistent with the dog (one should not say “yes” and the other “no”), and the educational basics being mastered (position holding, recall and relinquishment). If your dog barks in your yard, you can enrich your yard to make it more stimulating: put toys and chews to keep your dog busy. And yes, even if your garden is big, your dog knows it by heart from being there every day. You need to make it more interesting so that the time he spends there is not too long. You can also install a breezeway so that your dog doesn’t spend his time barking at passers-by / cars. Do not yell at him because this will reinforce his behavior, simply because he will have had attention from you. Even if your interaction is negative (yelling, threats, etc.), it is still an interaction on your part. Teach your dog to yield to the pressure of the leash. If your dog has associated the tension of the leash with coming back to you, this will be very helpful if your dog has a tendency to pull and bark at a stimulus.

THE ELECTRIC DOG BARKING COLLAR

There are hundreds of ways to educate dogs and each one will have its own way of working. Some will recommend an electric collar to solve excessive barking.

But as a very empathetic person, I can’t understand those who advise tools that will only bring negative results for the animal.

The electric collar is a traumatic tool for dogs, the dog will get an electric shock for a behavior that is NORMAL to him, so it is not logical for him.

MY DOG BARKS, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

The dog will react in two different ways: aggressiveness or inhibition. It may become reactive because it will have associated the element in front of it with the pain of the electric shock (dog, passer-by, bicycle, letter carrier, etc.) or it will not react at all for fear of getting an electric shock. The dog will not bark anymore, but at what price?

Moreover, the use of an electric collar will have other disadvantages:

Physical problems such as shaking, diarrhea, muscle twitching; the dog may also have neck sores, increased heart rate, etc.

Intellectual problems. A dog that does not trust itself or its human will take less or no initiative in its life. The animal is therefore permanently anxious. It becomes unfit to reach its full potential.

To conclude, a dog that barks when a passer-by passes by or if it is afraid of something unusual remains a dog that has a normal behavior. The important thing is that the barking should not come to be in excess, that is to say: all day without interruption.

If your dog is expressing discomfort and you are unable to identify the cause of the barking, contact a professional trained in canine behavior and behavioral analysis to resolve the situation quickly and with guidance.

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