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Oh My Barking Dog 7 Reasons Why Dogs Bark and Howl And What You Can Do About ItThe Resource for Everything About Dogs |
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Oh My Barking Dog 7 Reasons Why Dogs Bark and Howl And What You Can Do About Itby Joanell Hutchinson
Whether your dog barks or howls you need to identify why and resolve the problem. Legally your neighbors have a right to peace and quiet. Below are 7 of the most likely causes and cures: Separation Anxiety ? usually within the first 15 to 20 minutes of separation from their owner dogs will begin to exhibit behaviors such as barking. They may also exhibit pacing, tremors, self-mutilation or excessive biting at body areas like the feet and tail, hiding, and aggression at other animals or people. Boredom ? working dogs such as herding dogs, hound dogs and sporting dogs are bred to do a job and will easily become bore without one. These are typically highly energetic dogs with a need for a great deal of exercise and are best suited with a handler capable of taking them hiking, swimming, running, and playing daily. Loneliness ? some dogs are bred as companions. The Cavalier King Charles was used for curling up in the lap of sick people to keep them warm. Companion dogs have a need to be with their handlers and can become lonely when left at home for extended periods of time. Communication ? barking is a way of communicating with us about their needs. They may be ill, hungry, thirsty, asking to play or in pain. Like us, pain in dogs is not always obvious. Internal pain can easily go undetected unless you make yourself aware of your dog?s habits and communication methods. Different barks can be a signal of different issues. It?s also a way communicate with other neighborhood dogs. Defending Their Territory - a dog marks his territory to let other animals know when they enter his domain. If a dog sees a person or animal passing by their yard they will bark until the intruder has gone beyond his territory giving him a feeling of success. This reinforces his desire to bark at everyone passing by. Hunger ? dogs of the same size don?t always have the same appetite. You may have to test your dog?s eating habits to determine the correct amount of food to satisfy him. You certainly don?t want your dog to become obese so be sure to balance his appetite with the amount of exercise he gets. Fear and Phobias ? such as thunder or the fireworks on the 4th of July can be frightening to dogs. Barking is their way of letting you know they?re afraid and seeking security. Provide him with a warm, comfortable bed in a dark and quiet corner of the house. They may or may not want your company. Reassure them, in a confident tone of voice, and allow them to stay in the corner for as long as necessary. Soft classical music will help in most cases. Other Noises ? such as sirens, horns, and construction will cause a dog to bark. They believe they?re alerting you to the presence of an intruder. Indoor dogs ? removing the dog?s view of his territory will help. Pull the blinds and move any objects that allow the dog to get near the windows. Turn on the television, radio, or soothing classical music as a gentle distraction from outside noises and to relax the dog. Leave toys for the dog to chew on and play with while you?re away. Obedience training - teach the dog to have a positive response to a ringing doorbell and to other signs of intruders. Each time the doorbell rings make the dog sit and be quiet. Once he has done this for 10 to 20 seconds, reward him with a treat for his good behavior. Never punish the dog for bad behavior. You can ring the doorbell yourself in order to proceed with the training. When training your dog it?s important that he responds attentively to your commands. When you command him to sit, he should sit with his head forward and not turned to the side to see what?s going on around him. The Gentle Leader is one of the most popular head collars. It works by applying pressure to the back of the neck, rather than the front, which reduces the dog?s drive to pull forward. This causes the head to go where the rest of the body goes. Choke collars should never be used. The sharp pull and tightening around the throat can result in a collapsed trachea. Outdoor dogs - if you have an outdoor dog you will have a much harder time stopping him from barking and getting him a playmate may only result in both dogs barking. Shock collars must be used carefully to avoid harming the dog. Citronella collars are effective but costly. Both of these methods will work but neither will result in better command of your dog. Obedience training, with you as the handler, is the best way to teach your dog who is in charge and to obey your commands.
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