Dog barking is a contentious issue and often a massive source of tension between neighbours. For anyone, a dog barking is a horrible noise to hear for even the shortest period and you can understand that when the dog next door barks off and on for hours like a defective vehicle alarm, it is sufficient to try anyone's patience. What we frequently overlook is that the dog will be barking for an perfectly good reason (as far as they are aware) and it's potentially just as troubling for the dog who is experiencing the fear or anxiety.
Working out what triggers your dogs barking could be the hardest part of the problem as dogs can bark at the slightest of things. External noise, such as somebody walking past the house will start some dogs barking , however, even within the house, some dog owners find they can't leave their dog in a room alone without them becoming anxious and barking the place down, and the door bell or phone is frequently the cue for an outburst of barking.
Anxiety regularly lies behind a dogs excessive barking, although on the face of it, it can look more like aggression. So to stop dog barking we need to start by handling any anxiety problems, which will automatically reduce our dogs need to bark.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety is affecting more than 15% of dogs (and some research says as much as 50%). The anxiety leads to several behavioural symptoms from a dog pacing the floor, to chewing everything in sight as well as other destructive behavior. Dog separation anxiety is nearly always the reason for a dog barking too much when left home alone.
Reducing anxiety in dogs could be a lengthy process, dependent on how bad the symptoms are and will require both time and patience on your part. When you have worked out the things that set off the anxiety you'll be able to use desensitisation training to help your dog.
Leading the Pack
Closely interlinked to separation anxiety is pack leadership. As a pack animal, dogs know there should be a pack leader, one who is responsible for the safety of the remainder of its clan. If one of its charges goes missing, barking is one method of helping them to find their way back. Clever stuff, but then if we stop and realize that the dog could believe itself to be the responsible member of the pack, what does it feel when everyone goes out, locks the door and leaves them home alone?
Excessive barking in dogs is much like any concerned parents reaction to a kid that has disappeared. In our anxiety we would scream at the top of our voice in they hope that they can hear us and come running back, so too a dog will try to let the missing pack members understand how to find their way home. This is also why dogs will scratch wildly at the windows or doors, because they would like to get out and search for you.
The Easy Way To Stop Dogs Barking
One of the easiest methods to stop dogs barking is to remove the responsibility for the pack from the dog by showing them you're the pack leaders and the ones to be trusted.
That does not necessarily mean using gadgets like the shock collar every time your dog barks (why punish a dog for doing what it thinks is its job?) or removing its vocal chords (does it change the dog's mind about its responsibility?) Neither does it mean you've got to dominate your dog by pinning it down or pushing it around. Leadership can be established by showing your dog that you are the decision maker, for instance by always making them sit and wait for their food and only start eating when you give the say so.
It may seem like a roundabout way to stop dog barking, but by handling both dog separation anxiety and leadership issues you are more likely to bring calm to the household and the neighbourhood too.
Author Venice Marriott is a writer, rescue dog owner and runs a Dog Anxiety website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with dog anxiety. Get more information about how to stop dogs barking, when you visit the site.
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