22/11/2022
EXCESSIVE BARKING
Let me start by saying that it’s unreasonable to expect a dog to never bark as it is as unreasonable as expecting a child to never talk. But some dogs bark excessively, and the key is to find out why they are barking to be able to treat the problem.
Dogs bark to communicate different feelings and emotions – playfulness, happiness/excitement (greeting), protection of territory, fear, boredom, loneliness, attention, anxiety or just because they can and love to bark! Dogs that live outside the home may be more prone to barking as they are exposed to more stimuli – cars, people walking by, birds, children playing, mail man, refuse collection, cyclists, etc.
The treatment/ modification plan will depend on the reason for barking, the daily routine of the dog, his/her personality, breed/type, age, etc. The plan will be unique to the dog and his owner and may have a combination of training interventions, games, enrichment activities, toys, chews, exercises, medication, etc. It’s important to point out that excessive barking should never be treated with shock collars, debarking, spray bottles, rolled-up newspapers, etc. You should work with an accredited, force-free behaviourist to find out why your dog is barking, how he/she is feeling and develop a holistic, ethical modification plan to treat the issue.
Dogs who live in a rescue environment and who run around in groups or live in kennels/cages may be dealing with boredom, loneliness, lack of enrichment and sensory overload. Group behaviour can encourage random barking, barking at the slightest sound/movement or at passing birds. The more they bark, the more exciting and rewarding it could become. Excessive barking could give them an adrenaline rush which makes the behaviour more enjoyable – this feeling will reinforce the behaviour of continued barking! It becomes a vicious cycle as the more they bark, the better they feel until barking can become almost like an addiction.
This does not apply to fearful and anxious dogs who bark, or those that bark to guard their territory - they may need different/additional interventions.
Some ideas to curb excessive barking in shelters are:
• Introduce enrichment activities where the dogs are encouraged to participate in natural behaviours like sniffing for example. Planting lavender, thyme, mint, lemon grass, etc. in pots or in open spaces will encourage them to use their noses.
• Providing opportunities to take a break from concrete cages and dig in a sand pit will be rewarding to them as its in a dog’s nature to dig.
• Scatter feeding will activate the hunting genes – rather than serve their breakfast or dinner in a bowl, scatter it so they can hunt down their pellets.
• Create safe spaces where they can be taken in groups or individually to run and play for time boxed periods as opposed to sitting in cages all day. This will constitute physical exercise which will tire them out which will mean less barking time.
• Providing chew toys and natural chews like hooves will be innately satisfying to them and be a distraction from the stimuli that causes them to bark. It will also ward of boredom and loneliness.
• Playing games like tug rope, hide-and-seek or fetch will engage them mentally and physically.
* Reduce line of sight to the offending stimuli which may reduce arousal and hence barking.
Re dogs barking due to separation anxiety, try some of the tips above but as this is a complex issue, you may need a proper assessment done to assess the correct emotional state of your dog, the possible root of the problem and to be able to develop a customised plan to improve the dog's emotional state. Medication may be needed as well and the behaviourist will work with the vet on this one. A pet sitter or doggie day care are also options to keep your pooch company. A friend or neighbour dropping by to check in on your pooch will also help.
Re small dogs barking at bigger dogs, it could be fear based or a situation where Fido is guarding his territory. I would also recommend an individual assessment to understand the unique situation and devise a plan to lessen the barking. In the meantime, try and limit exposure to big dogs by walking Fido at a quieter time of day, visiting the park in quieter times of the day and limiting visual access to big dogs.
In general cases – the more physically and mentally engaged a dog is, the less time he/she has to bark excessively. Of course, it may still be more rewarding for Fido to bark alone or with his/her mates than play ball or to engage in any other activity, in which case, rescue staff and owners will have to just smile and wave if they cannot find replacement activities for Fido which are way more rewarding than barking. Some dogs just enjoy it and do it because they can. In cases where there is no improvement even after working with a behaviourist, where the neighbours and body corporates are still complaining and where you don't have the option to move house or rehoming of your pet can be an option to find a more conducive environment where your pet can cope better or bark his head off without causing too much trouble in the neighbourhood.
The home for dogs. 🐕💜
