Dogs bark, and that's a fact. Even a Baseji makes vocalizations. What is a dog communicating with its bark, and what can you do when the barking is excessive?
Fish gotta swim. Birds gotta fly. Dogs gotta bark. In fact, they like to bark. David Appleby, a pet behavior counselor in Worcestershire, England, states that dogs can communicate by using ten different types of sound, ranging from whimpering to growling and that by varying the tone of those sounds, they can convey no less than 39 different meanings. They bark to say “hello”, they bark when they want something, when they are having fun, when they are scared, frustrated or defensive and sometimes when they are just plain bored. But excessive barking makes life difficult for the dog’s human family and any neighbors within “woofing” distance.
To reduce a dog’s barking it is important to determine the dog’s reason for barking. The most common causes of excessive barking are:
- Boredom
- Alarm
- Excitement
- Pain
- Fear
- Separation Anxiety
- Invasion of the dog's territory
Teaching a dog to bark less, or only when appropriate, takes time – there is no quick fix. To make things even more difficult, some dogs are prone to barking more than others, just as some people are just naturally more talkative, and certain breeds are known as barkers, so you may end up trying to work against nature.
The “Don’ts”
- Don't encourage the dog to bark at things seen out the window or people coming to the door.
- Don't punish the dog for barking at some sounds while encouraging him to bark at other sounds. You must be consistent or your dog becomes even more frustrated.
- Never punish a dog who is barking from fear or anxiety. This increases the dog’s anxiousness, which in turn may cause the barking to become even worse.
- Never tie a dog's muzzle closed with any type of rope, cord, or rubber bands. This is dangerous, painful, and inhumane.
- What about "bark collars"? The Humane Society puts it best: “Anti-bark collars are punishment devices and are not recommended as a first choice for dealing with a barking problem, especially if the barking is motivated by fear, anxiety or compulsion.” If you feel there is no other choice, seek advice from a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, a Veterinary Behaviorist, or a Certified Professional Dog Trainer before using one of these collars.
The “Do’s”
The most obvious – try counteracting the reason(s) the dog is barking. If you suspect he’s in pain, see your vet. If it’s from separation or fear or anxiety, explore some of the aromatherapy and calming herbal options available. If it’s from boredom, invest in an interactive toy – such as those which dispense treats – for him to work with while you’re away. Make sure you’re spending time with your pet, going for walks, playing, grooming and interacting with him.
Rather than punishing your dog for barking, teach him to respond to the word “quiet”. Just as a dog can understand “sit”, “stay”, etc. you can teach a dog to understand that “quiet” means stop barking. Rather than just saying “no” (which is not all that instructional to the dog), saying “quiet” gives the dog a real behavior to perform. Here’s how:
- Have plenty of tasty treats at hand.
- With the dog paying attention to you say “quiet” in a calm low voice, even though the dog is not barking. You may even want to raise your finger to your lips to give the dog a physical cue as well.
- Give the dog a treat (unless he barks when you say “quiet”).
- Repeat this exercise as many times as you like but stop the session before the dog becomes bored.
- Make sure you have treats around regularly for a while as the next step is trying it when the dog is barking.
- After one or two barks, say “quiet”, making sure you are close to the dog and have a treat ready. If the dog looks at you and is quiet, praise him and give the treat. If you are ignored and the barking continues, let the dog know you have a treat by putting it under his nose. When the barking stops, praise and treat.
- After a while you can start to sometimes use just a vocal reward and sometimes with treat, gradually using treats less and less.
While it may be a dog’s very nature to bark, it is possible to control the excessive use of this form of canine communication.
