Behavior: Barking

1 comment | Leave your own comment

Just as human language is multifaceted and multipurpose, barking allows a dog to communicate many different messages in a variety of situations. It can signal a request to an owner ("Hey, I want to go outside!"), impart a warning ("You're in my territory!"), or simply serve to amuse when a dog has little else to do.

An instinctive canine behavior, a bark now and then reminds you that your dog is still very much a dog. However, constant barking can be disruptive, if not downright nerve-racking. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent or curb problem barking.

Causes

If you don't hear him do it, but you hear about it from neighbors, it's likely your dog barks out of boredom when you're not around. In short, he enjoys barking--it's a way to occupy himself when he's left alone.

Fear barking, on the other hand, is a stress response. It's caused by something unknown to the dog, such as a sudden noise or another dog's bark. Fear barking can also result from sights and sounds a dog finds disconcerting, like skateboards or sirens. In these cases, dogs bark to send a clear message to whatever's scaring them: Stay away!

A third type is frustration barking. This occurs when the dog is denied access to something he desperately wants, such as a favorite toy, a piece of steak, or the terrier on the other side of the fence.

Treatment

Fear

For a fearful barker, desensitization--the process of removing anxiety around a negative stimulus--can be a very effective treatment. As with any procedure aimed at alleviating a dog's stress, enlisting the help of a reputable trainer is an excellent choice. In the meantime, here's an idea  [Continued]