No More Bad Dogs

It’s happened to everyone.  You go over to a friend’s house and their barking dog attacks you.  Well, it jumps up on your good clothes, enthusiastically licks your face and pokes its nose in areas you’d rather it didn’t sniff, thank you very much – all while your friend stands by helplessly.  Then, the excited dog decides to welcome your leg into the house with a warm, personal embrace. 

Once you’d disentangled yourself and finally found a seat, the dog comes charging over and demands that you pet it – nosing, nipping and nudging until you surrender and give it a few pats before it spills your drink.  During dinner, the scene worsens: The dog sits right next to you, placing its head on your napkinned lap, looking up at you with pleading eyes and drooling in anticipation of the snack to come.  
If you’ve ever had to endure a night like this, whether as a host or as a visitor, you understand what a difference it makes to have a well-mannered dog.  Imagine having a dog that sits nicely to greet guests; stays when you tell it to; and never, ever begs.  Such a dog would be the wonder of the neighborhood, walking on a loose leash, playing gently with children, sitting politely to receive attention and coming when called.   
Believe it or not, your dog can become this wonder dog with a concerted training plan.  I’ve often been asked the question “why does my dog do that!!!!!”  Well, because it’s a dog!

Don’t bark.  Don’t dig.  Don’t chew.  Don’t be a dog!!  Be a child in a fur suit.  A perfectly mannered child, who plays on command, sleeps on command and is seen but not heard is what we call the perfect mate.  I have a client who owns a spirited 6-year old Papillon that is a chronic barker.  He barks when the telephone rings.  He barks when the doorbell rings.  When left alone, he barks and barks and barks.  He barks at kids, passing cars, the postman, the paperboy, the wind, the trees.  He barks when his owner plays with him.  He barks when his owner won’t play with him.  He barks when his owner picks him up.

It’s natural for dogs to bark or otherwise vocalize.  Yet chronic or excessive barking is a primary reason cited by people surrendering their dogs to animal shelters.  But are the dogs really to blame?  Why do dogs bark?  Dogs bark for a variety of reasons.  They bark when they get excited, when they are playing with other dogs, when the doorbell rings and to greet you when you arrive home.  One of the early goals of domestication was for dogs to guard and warn against possible dangers, and most owners agree they do not want their dogs to stop barking completely.  Most people like the security that comes when Fido alerts them to suspicious intruders and unexpected visitors.  Let’s face it, though, when a dog barks incessantly because it is neurotic, spoiled, frustrated, bored, lonely or lacks adequate obedience training, and it can’t be quieted with a simple command, it’s a noisy dog. 

Many breeds, such as Shetland Sheepdogs and Poodles, are prone to excessive barking, and they seem to bark with little encouragement.  However, most dogs that develop chronic or excessive barking usually do so as a result of boredom, frustration or some form of stimuli.  Chronic barking can also be a result of well-intended owners who inadvertently contribute to the problem by allowing bad habits to grow.  “When their adorable 10-week-old puppy is barking, owners often do nothing because they assume the problem will magically go away on its own as the puppy grows and matures.  10 or 12 months down the road, the barking has escalated into a serious problem, and frustrated owners looking for some peace and quiet end up giving the dog away. 
Try to understand why your pooch is barking excessively.  For instance, an apartment-dwelling dog that is left alone all day might bark because it isn’t getting enough attention or exercise.  Perhaps it sits on the couch and stares out the window where it barks at the myriad passerby. 

Some barking problems can be traced to inadequate physical or mental exercise.  High-energy breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd and Border Collie, need lots of daily physical and mental stimulations.  Lacking appropriate exercise, these dogs will eventually implode – releasing their excess energy through excessive barking, destructive chewing or digging.  In these situations, the solution may be as simple as daily exercise – a jog in the park, retrieving a Frisbee or tennis ball. Or fun hide-and-seek games that stimulate your dog’s mind. 

Another option to control barking is with the use of corrective exercises.  Always start with the mildest correction necessary, such as a shaker can or spray bottle.  It you use a spay bottle, do not put water in it; rather, fill the bottle up with non-alcoholic mouth wash or better yet, pure white vinegar.  As soon as the barking occurs, spray 2 to 3 direct spays in the mouth.  The idea here is that your dog will associate the barking with that awful taste of vinegar or mouth wash that is sprayed directly in the mouth.  The goal, of course, is that the dog stops barking sooner, rather than later. 

Whether you choose the shaker can, spray bottle or ultrasonic noise emitter, the following tips will enhance your chances of success.

• Consistency and timing are the keys to success.  You must be consistent each time your dog barks until you can train it to respond to your quiet or other command. 
• Positive reinforcement is much more powerful than negative reinforcement.  Verbally praise and reward the behavior you want, which is your dog not barking. 
• Dogs cannot learn an appropriate alternative to barking if you are not present to teach it. 
• Dogs are individuals.  They learn at different rates.  You may see improvement within a few days – or it may take many weeks.  Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

There will always be dogs that have a propensity to bark, and dogs that are more difficult than others to keep quiet.  Despite the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” it is possible, and even adult dogs with serious barking problems can learn new behaviors. 
Preventing barking troubles before they become major stumbling blocks takes more than wishful thinking.  It requires a basic understanding of why dogs bark, a good dose of patience, a well-thought out plan and a solid commitment to raising a well-behaved dog.  Outfitted with this knowledge, you too can have a well-behaved, quite dog that is a joy to own. 

Keep posted for my final article of a four-part series that will specifically talk about my new service, pet walking, and why it is so important to walk dogs on a daily basis.  Hopefully you already have somewhat of an idea by having read this article.