You never want your dog to totally hush if they are trying to alert you to danger. But you can teach them to calm down by responding to the alert and telling them they are good for alerting you.
So be careful how you handle the barking if they are just trying to be a watchdog.
But if the dog is excessively barking out of boredom, try spending more time with your pet. Take it for some long walks or play games of fetch. It may just need some more exercise.
Here are some reasons your dog may bark.
Alert barking: Dogs are famous for being able to alert their owners about diverse events: the presence of a stranger or territorial intrusion. This is known as territorial or alert barking. The dog typically starts with a growl and this develops into loud barking.
Attention-seeking barking: Dogs may bark when they want to draw your attention to themselves or to something that is going on: a car arriving, mail, unusual noises, cats, children playing, etc. This is different than territorial barking, when a dog barks a few times and waits for some attention or action to be taken. Typically, the dog barks to seek attention if there are people around.
Excitement and playful barking: Dogs can communicate their excitement by barking. If you play with him, he might request a treat by barking. This is a friendly behavior and the barking stops after you have administrated a treat or offered some attention to your dog.
Barking to signal needs: A dog may realize that by barking he can signal his needs for food, affection or wanting to go outside. So he will be sitting in front of the food bowl and barking when he feels hungry or barking in front of the door when he wants to go outside. This behavior is similar to the attention-seeking barking.
Anxiety and stress: Dogs may bark if they are under stress or if they suffer from separation anxiety. The stress may be induced by different factors or diseases, so it might be a good idea to visit a vet. If the dog is left by himself for too long, he will start barking simply out of boredom or anxiety.
How to stop excessive barking: Excessive barking may create a problem for dog owners. It is noisy and may disturb the neighbors. It’s important to detect the cause of the barking, which in turn will help you find a suitable solution.
Obedience training may solve the problem. Calming down and distracting the dog are frequent methods used when a stimulus that induces barking occurs. There are also different types of bark collars that can correct your dog’s behavior. Patience helps.
If you are looking for a friend for life, stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society or check us out on Facebook. We are located at 210 Cross Street, Presque Isle.
Please be responsible: spay and neuter your pets.
Gloria J. Towle is on the Central Aroostook Humane Society Board of Directors
