Bark bark barking

Thanks to Ryan Bauer of dogfencediy.com for sending along this article by vet Susan Wright. Ryan sells invisible, electronic dog fencing, which he supplies in a do it yourself (diy) format, at substantial savings. I'm not sure I'm for electronic anything when it comes to dogs, but on the other hand, bad behavior is very challenging and one needs stuff that works.

Before Barking Has Shattered Your Last Nerve
By Susan Wright, DVM

There are as few things in this world as annoying as a barking dog that just will not stop. Actually I am listening to one right now. You see my neighbors have hearts of gold when it comes to animals, and they rescue pretty much anything that breathes. Officially, they operate a Great Pyrenees Rescue, but they have dogs and cats and birds and donkeys and horses that were all cast aside and forgotten who have found a place to be safe.

And how could your ever complain about the noise? These are dogs that have been neglected and abused and sometimes left to die. The amount of time, money and work that goes into saving even a single dog is phenomenal. Nail biting surgeries, when successful usually require a long confined recovery time, and as the dogs are feeling better, the barking begins. So on the one hand the barking is great news, but on the other hand there are days, when the Chinese water torture bark, bark, barking just works my absolute last nerve.

Thankfully, pretty much the only time that a dog bark gets my attention is when my dogs are outside, and that is because I do not want them bothering anyone. Once my guys are tucked inside, then I really do not care what is going on outside. Dogs can be barking or pigs could be flying. It makes no difference to me at all. However, some people are not so lucky, and they cannot ignore a chronic dog bark. So unless you have some really extenuating circumstance surrounding your dog and his barking, do your neighbors a favor and zip it.

Dogs bark for a myriad of reasons, so rather than just punishing your dog, see if you can find out what the underlying problem is. Trust me, it is easier to address the cause than to simply try to modify the behavior. In extreme cases I have seen people have their dog put to sleep or debarked when they are at their wits end, and I am always a little sad when this is the solution to the problem.

Dogs bark when they are defensive. When your dog is frightened or just protecting his territory, he will bark at an intruder. This kind of barking actually can be encouraged depending on your dog’s definition of an intruder. If every bird and squirrel is an intruder, you may have a bit of a problem. However, if there is a creepy guy with a ski mask sneaking in your back door, well, I guess you still have a bit of a problem. It makes the first problem not look so terrible, doesn’t it?

The squirrel and the birds become entertainment when your dog has too much energy, so grab that leash and hit the trails. Take your dog for a run, a walk or a bike ride, and you will be amazed at the transformation that you see. Tired dogs sleep, and that is much better than barking. As for the creepy guy sneaking in the back door, I think this may also be an excellent time to grab that leash and take a run with your dog --- to the police station!

If your dog is defending his territory against a perceived intruder like the postal carrier then you want to interrupt his barking with a loud noise (like shaking a soda can with some pennies in it) and redirecting his behavior. Have him sit and stay, and it is absolutely fair to reinforce this behavior with a treat. If your postal carrier comes at the same time every day try to plan a training session for that time, so that it may even be possible for you to have his attention before he misbehaves.

If your dog is barking because he is simply bored, of course take him for a run a couple of times a day before you try anything else. Then you can try capturing his attention other ways by switching his toys every few days to keep him interested, or if your dog is food driven try hiding treats in the toys. If your dog loves to chew, you can also keep a couple of large butcher bones in the freezer and occupy his attention with one of those as a really nice surprise.

When all else fails, you can always try using an anti-bark spray collar. These collars spay a light mist in front of the dog’s nose with an unpleasant smell. Between the mist, the hiss and the unpleasant smell most dogs quickly get the message.

So be kind to your neighbors even if they have not complained about your dog. If you notice that his is barking at an inappropriate time, be proactive before he is working on your last nerve.

Dr. Susan Wright, a licensed veterinarian, writes on various canine topics for dogfencediy.com, which provides do-it-yourself underground electric dog fencing solutions and training for owners.

Hammacher Schlemmer's pre-Xmas gift catalog has a lot of gizmos for pet owners, including an indoor barking deterrent thingy. There are few things as annoying as a dog that barks incessantly.