What Causes Dogs To Bark Excessively
Barking is a normal behaviour for dogs and an important means of communication. They may bark when calling out to other dogs or respond to other barking dogs or when communicating with their human owners. Any noise, no matter how slight can stimulate a barking response for e.g. rustling leaves, a banging window or a knock at the frontdoor/doorbell.
However, when dogs bark excessively this usually indicates an underlying issue and they can become a nuisance to their owners and the neighbourhood. Before you can successfully manage a barking problem you will need to determine the cause of the barking. Your neighbours may be able to tell you how often your dog barks in your absence.
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons and it is important to work out why your dog is barking excessively. Once the underlying cause and triggers for the barking are identified, training techniques can be used to treat the excessive barking in a humane way.
The basis of barking issues is quite different. Likewise, approaches to treating each of them often need to be different. Take the time to characterise your dogs barking habits does he bark at people passing by? Ask your neighbours whether he barks while you are away from home does he bark all day or only some of the time?
Talk to your veterinarian who can provide behaviour advice and its also a good idea to take your dog to the vet for a full health check to make sure there are no medical reasons for the excessive barking.
Why Shouldnt I Just Use An Electronic Barking Collar
If you have read all that preceeds, by now you should realise that there are many causes and many potential remedies for the excessive vocalisation your dog will be exhibiting.
If you are considering using a barking collar you should first ask if that collar will get rid of the territorial challenges your dog may be experiencing and will it relieve boredom, enrich your dogs lifestyle, eliminate medical conditions, anxieties and compulsions or help to sure senility.
Barking collars dont treat the underlying malady.
We almost never use barking collars. The only rare times we have were for special cases where other forms of therapy have not worked. In more than 30 years of barking therapy, we have used barking collars less than five times and they were effective for only two of those cases.
The Second Best Product We Tested Was The Dogrook No Bark Collar Because Its Comfortable For Dogs To Wear All Day And Has Vibration And Tone Settings In Addition To Static Correction
The second best product we tested was the DogRook No Bark Collar because its comfortable for dogs to wear all day and has vibration and tone settings in addition to static correction.
This collar is not a shock collar it uses two different types of stimulation, both of which are humane alternatives to the traditional shock collar. The first is a vibration thats gentle enough for your dog to barely notice but will get through if they dont stop barking. Its similar to the feeling you get when someone taps your shoulder or touches your arm gently while youre concentrating on something else.
The second type of stimulation is an audible tone, which can also be customized with different intensities so you can find one that works best for your dog. Vibrations have been shown in studies by Drs., Karen Overall and Emily Weiss as being more effective than tones at curbing excessive barking without causing any stress or fear in dogs however, both modes are considered humane alternatives to using no-bark collars at all! Because this model uses both methods simultaneously rather than just one type over another like some other models doand because it can be programmed with up 12 levels per mode instead of just 3 like most othersits easier than ever before!
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Excessive Dog Barking Is Causing You Stresslearn How To Stop It
Did you know that excessive dog barking can cause you intense stress? Whether it’s your neighbor’s dog that wakes you up in the middle of the night or your own hound that startles you while you work at home, you need to stop dog barking noises for your own health.
The adverse effects of noises are many: sleep deprivation, hearing impairment, psychological and performance problems.This means that you may be affected in many areas of your life including your relationships and your work.
Noise stress can also make you feel annoyed at things that you otherwise wouldn’t be. The state of annoyance can further exacerbate the problem because you may feel you need to be isolated from others.
Dog barking becomes a problem when it is too frequent. All dogs bark at some point and this is OK, it is one of the ways in which they communicate. It becomes a problem when it’s constant.
But There Are Also Times When You Just Want Your Dog To Shut Up So You Can Get Some Peace And Quiet
But there are also times when you just want your dog to shut up so you can get some peace and quiet. In these situations, a non-invasive or humane bark collar is the best option.
Humane collars use sound or vibration to get your dogs attention, with no negative impact on their health. There are many options available that work well for this purpose, including:
- The PetSafe Stubborn Dog Bark Collar is an excellent choice for dogs that bark in response to sounds or other stimuli in their environment . It uses a combination of sound and vibration to interrupt these unwanted behaviors while leaving your pet fully intact and unharmed.* The SportDOG NoBark 10R Rechargeable Dog Collar is another good option for owners who want more control over how often their dog barks without having to put them through any pain.* Finally, its worth noting that there are also plenty of humane no-shock collars out there too if you prefer not using shock at all!
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How To Stop Dog Barking At People
Whether you have company or youre trying to enjoy time with your pup at the park, it can be disconcerting to have a dog that always barks at people. You may be wondering how to stop dog barking at neighbours or other people that you come into contact with. The good news is that it certainly is possible to stop your dog from barking at people.
Its important to first understand why dogs bark at people in the first place. There are several reasons why dogs do this, including:
Regardless of why your dog is barking, it is possible to train your dog to not bark at people. However, this wont happen overnight. Its important to determine what kind of training you want to do, to remain patient, and to have consistency in your training techniques.
Here are some of the best ways to stop your how to stop a dog from barking at people.
Changing Routines To Reduce Excessive Barking
Slow down your leaving routine
If your leaving routine is the main trigger for your dogs barking, vets advise slowing down how long it takes you to go out.
For example, try putting on your shoes or coat a while before you actually leave. Then watch some TV, make a snack or check some emails. When you do head out, go with minimal fuss, so that your dog isnt faced with the sudden alarm of being about to be left without you.
Make a habit of doing this over and over again and in a different order, to keep things less predictable.
Dont overplay your return
Come back in and give them a quiet greeting with a quick pat, without giving them too much overwhelming attention immediately.
Counter-conditioning
Counter-conditioning, also known as systematic desensitization, has been shown to be successful in some dogs to curb excessive barking when left alone.
This involves exposing a dog to very short periods alone to help them overcome their fear of it, and slowly building up the amount of time youre away, so that they learn to feel comfortable without you for longer periods.
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What About Separation Anxiety
A recent study confirmed what many dog behaviorists and owners already know: separation anxiety in dogs is a complex problem. Remember that anxiety is a term that means your dog is sufficiently stressed that there will be some physiological signs that will be manifested by behaviors such as pacing, whining, panting or drooling, Dr. Burch says.
She also adds that your smartphone can be a very useful tool for diagnosing the root of your dogs behavior. Consider using a smartphone app like Barkio or Pet Monitor VIGI to observe your dog remotely, or a simple nanny camera. By watching your dogs behavior from afar youll be able to watch for signs of anxiety in your absence, or see if the barking happens when squirrels are in the yard, or if your dog gets destructive when its simply bored.
- Exercise your dog vigorously before you leave. This allows your dog to rest well in your absence.
- Leave activities to keep your dog occupied. Examples include a safe chew toy, or an interactive game where your dog works to get a treat out of a puzzle.
- Provide training while youre home. Leave the dog for a few seconds, come back into the house, and reward him for quiet, calm behavior. Add a few seconds at a time. Although this process does work, it requires a lot of patience and if you try to add too much time at once, it wont work.
Weve Tested Two Devices Designed To Reduce Or Prevent Excessive Barking With Our Own Dogs Plus A Product Designed To Help Identify Why Your Dog Is Barking In The First Place And How To Fix It
Weve tested two devices designed to reduce or prevent excessive barking with our own dogs, plus a product designed to help identify why your dog is barking in the first place and how to fix it.
Item #1: The Bark Collar Pro
This collar is not only one of the most accurate bark collars on the market, but it also has an LED light that lights up when your dog barks once. This will allow you to know when theyre barking without having to listen for it. It also comes with an adjustable sensitivity setting so you can adjust how many times they have to bark before it goes off.
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This Section Will Give You Remedies For The Barking Your Dog Does When You Are Away From Him Or Her
Typically you would be concerned that your dog barks excessively:-
- when you are at work
- when you leave the home for evening social events, for short shopping trips and so forth
- when you are sleeping and your dog is in the garden and therefore away from you.
This Guide is also important if you have a Council action regarding your dogs barking or your neighbours are complaining about your dogs barking when you are away.
Common Symptoms Of Separation Anxiety
The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate separation anxiety:
Urinating and DefecatingSome dogs urinate or defecate when left alone or separated from their guardians. If a dog urinates or defecates in the presence of his guardian, his house soiling probably isnt caused by separation anxiety.
Barking and HowlingA dog who has separation anxiety might bark or howl when left alone or when separated from his guardian. This kind of barking or howling is persistent and doesnt seem to be triggered by anything except being left alone.
Chewing, Digging and DestructionSome dogs with separation anxiety chew on objects, door frames or window sills, dig at doors and doorways, or destroy household objects when left alone or separated from their guardians. These behaviors can result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped paws and damaged nails. If a dogs chewing, digging and destruction are caused by separation anxiety, they dont usually occur in his guardians presence.
EscapingA dog with separation anxiety might try to escape from an area where hes confined when hes left alone or separated from his guardian. The dog might attempt to dig and chew through doors or windows, which could result in self-injury, such as broken teeth, cut and scraped front paws and damaged nails. If the dogs escape behavior is caused by separation anxiety, it doesnt occur when his guardian is present.
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The Trigger: Attention Seeking
The Fix:If your dog barks to get attention, donât reward their demands. Yelling at your dog is inadvertently rewarding them for barking, even if the communication is negative. Itâs best to ignore the barking. Wait for five seconds of quiet, then reward your dog with attention. This way, your dog learns that they get nothing from you when they bark but gets everything when theyâre quiet.
Keep Your Dog Active Both Mentally And Physically
Enrichment is an important part of helping your dog relax. Just like your dog needs physical stimulation, she also needs mental stimulation to help them manage their emotions and calm down. Enrichment is like exercise for your dogs brain.
There are tons of things you can do that are considered an environment for your pup. Things that soothe your dog and provide mental stimulation, like products that allow chewing and licking, are incredibly effective.
Bullysticks or other natural chews are good for quiet mental stimulation when your dog needs some downtime. Dog puzzle toys are also a great way to encourage your dog to try these naturally calming behaviours.
Games like scattering food in the garden, doggie puzzles, or hiding a bone in a blanket are great ways to give your dog enrichment and prevent dog boredom. Frequent enrichment, just like frequent exercise, helps your dog learn self-soothing techniques and keeps her sharp.
These are particularly helpful for an overall balanced, healthy, and happy life, but also emotional regulation which reduces reactivity.
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What About Bark Collars
Bark collars are a short-term aid to help prevent dogs barking when left alone, particularly with dogs who persist with barking long after your departure.
They work via a small microphone that detects when the dog barks and responds by releasing a spray of unpleasant fragrance, such as citronella, which dogs dont like.
A study at Cornell found that citronella collars were effective at stopping nuisance barking.
However, bark collars don’t address your dogs underlying separation anxiety. If your poochs excessive barking is coupled with other negative behaviors such as pacing, drooling or destroying furniture, a barking collar wont stop any of these. In fact, it might make them worse.
It is therefore recommended to use longer term measures to reduce your dogs separation barking longer term. After all, the aim of the game should be a happier, more relaxed dog, not just a quiet one.
Being Anxious When Left Alone
Dogs are social animals and it is normal for them to become anxious when they are left alone for the first time. Take care to teach your dog how to cope with being left alone at a young age. Begin by trying small amounts of time apart. For example you could put your dog outside in the yard for short periods of time while you are still at home. Make sure they have toys to play and safe things to chew on while they are outside so the experience is a positive one. Please see the feeding article linked below.
Gradually extend the length of time you are leaving your dog alone. When you do leave the house make sure that they have somewhere safe to retreat to such as a kennel. Make sure that they receive plenty of exercise and that they have a supply of toys and safe chew toys/items to keep them entertained while you are away. Do not fuss over your dog when you come home make sure both your departure and return are quiet and unexcited. Most dogs will adjust to periods of time alone, however some become severely stressed and may begin to bark incessantly and even self mutilate/injure themselves. If your dog suffers from separation anxiety you will need to manage the condition in consultation with a veterinarian. Please see the knowledgebase article below about separation anxiety.
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Enriching Your Dogs Home
In many cases, excessive barking is caused by boredom.
Even if your dogs barking is not caused by boredom, boredom relief and lifestyle enrichment are still foundation stones upon which many other therapies rely.
So, giving your dog a rich lifestyle is often a vital part of bark-reduction therapy.
There is a whole section of Pethealth.com.au devoted to this essential concept and it starts with this No Bored Dogs Routine.
Providing brain-game toys that give your dog the Sudoku effect is also vital and you will find all the information on dog toys on this link.
What Do I Need To Know Before I Try To Stop My Dog From Barking
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