|
|
| Caring for your pets' health 7days a week
|
|
|
Barking Dogs |
 |
Does your dog bark when you are not at home? Does the noise irritate your family and neighbours? Barking is an important means of communication for dogs, and a perfectly natural form of canine behaviour. However, excessive barking can be one of the most annoying forms of noise pollution, and the cause of many neighbourly disputes!
There are several steps you can take to reduce nuisance barking.
|
Try to isolate the problem
Nuisance barking can be very annoying, however, it is important to learn why your dog is barking.
Some dogs bark because they are distressed at being left alone, and others bark as part of an obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If you want to control the barking, try to identify and treat the underlying problem.
The most common causes of barking include:
Boredom
External Causes
Separation anxiety
Changes to lifestyle
Health problems
Breeding
Most of these problems can be dealt with, by implenting certain changes in lifestyles for your dog as well as yourself.
However, if you already have a problem barker, there are a few other devices available, to help control nuisance barking. |
Citronella Collar
One of these options that is supported by the Australian Veterinary Association, is a citronella collar. These collars spray a burst of citronella into the dog's face when it barks, which often acts as a deterrant.
These collars can be rented from some local councils and veterinary clinics. An alternative to renting the collar, is to purchase one through vet clinics or large pet stores.
Note: Some dogs have learned to bark after the citronella collar is removed, and the collar may have to be put back on.
|
 |
Husher Elastic Dog Training Aid
The most humane, effective solution for reducing barking, chewing, biting and aggression. The principle is that after a few short barks, dogs find it is easier and less tiresome not to exhibit nuisance barking and/or chewing, and to reduce biting and aggression.
The Husher gives dogs dual ventilation from the corners of their mouths and also allows dogs to pant, eat and drink. Dogs learn fairly quickly what behaviour is acceptable, and what isn't. |
Note: Never leave a dog unattended with Husher on until you are CERTAIN that it can pant and drink.
|
Top of the page  |
Boredom can be treated by increasing the amount of mental stimulation your dog receives. You can hide toys and treats around the garden, to increase your dog's
mental stimulation. Taking your dog for walks, and providing more human interaction can also help alleviate boredom.
You can take your dog for obedience training, or provide more off the leash exercise. |
| Top of the page |
Separation anxiety can be treated by training your dog to be apart from you, whilst you are
still on the premises. It is caused by your dog forming a very strong bond with someone in the family.
The bond is so strong, that the dog has trouble being apart from the person, and can become very stressed when it is away from the person.
Some of the ways to overcome separation anxiety include, introducing short periods of controlled separation from the person, whilst the person is still on the premises.
It also helps to vary your daily routine, to remove the "cues" that trigger separation anxiety. Eg when you pick up your car keys, the dog learns that you
are about to leave, and may become very stressed.
If your dog has separation anxiety, you can seek professional advice from your Veterinarian. |
| Top of the page |
External causes, such as teasing children, or hostile neighbours can be dealt with by informing the parents, or trying to keep your dog in a different part of the garden, where the
children cannot get to it. If you can block the dog's view of the street, your dog may not be as prone to barking at people walking along the street. |
| Top of the page |
Health problems may also play a minor role in nuisance barking. For an example, if your dog
has a skin irritation,or a minor discomfort, it may bark more than usual. If you are concerned about your dog's health, you can visit your Veterinarian for a health check. |
Changes in lifestyle can play a role in nuisance barking. If the barking has started after a change in the dog's lifestyle, such as a new baby, try to enrich its environment in different ways. You can
try not to change the dog's usual routine too much. Introduce the dog to the new baby gradually, and allow it to accept the baby as the newest member of it's "pack". Once your dog has accepted the baby as part of it's "pack", it will settle down However it is important to remember not to leave young children unsupervised with your dog, even for short periods of time.
Other lifestyle changes can also be treated in the same way. Examine your routine and see if it has changed in any way. If circumstances result in your being unable to spend as much time with your dog as before, try to find new ways to enrich its environment.
|
| Top of the page |
Breeding can play a role. Barking is a normal form of behaviour for dogs, however, some breeds tend to bark more than others. Genetics may also play a role in
the amount of barking that a dog does. Some research has indicated that if a dog's parents bark alot, it may also exhibit similar behaviour.
|
Top of the page
|
|
|
