Dog Barking Problems
Today I want to write a little about dog barking problems, and why some dogs like to bark so much. The subject is at the top of my list, because I occasionally am treated to the dubious pleasure of being serenaded by crazy neighborhood dogs all night long. Being a light sleeper, once I start tuning into the barking I can’t go back to sleep. My neighbor’s dogs (and there are several of them) periodically go on barking frenzies most of the night long and these recurrent dog barking problems get to be really irritating. It can be infuriating to hear the barking, instead of peacefully sleeping, but at least my anger was somewhat mollified because I knew there was a good reason for it. We live in an area with lots of coyotes. Last night had a full moon, and every month the full moon seems to affect these coyotes and the dog barking problem becomes bad for a few nights each month. For some reason the coyotes always come close by on full moons-I guess they just want to share their vocal stylings with us. Naturally, the neighbor’s dogs are all barking at the offending coyotes. It’s like being in the middle of two sets of bad, angry rappers. So, although I am losing sleep, at least there is a natural reason for. In fact there are several good reasons why a dog may start barking, and these are not problems unless they become habituated or incessant. In the second half of this article, Dog Barking Problems, part 2, I discuss the types of dog barking that are problematic, and will demand your attention for behavior modification in order to get them under control.
On the first page of this article I want to go over some of the various reasons for dog barking that are not really problems needing to be corrected. For instance, when your dog barks to warn you about something, you can see what sometimes barking has a good purpose. Keep in mind that barking is the dog’s primary way to communicate and it is a very natural part of their behavior. Of course, you will want to train your dog when not to bark if he has a dog barking problem behavior-such as excessive barking due to anxiety, or aggression, or loneliness- but you don’t want to try to completely stop the dog from barking.
There are some natural and prefectly good times for your dog to bark. Here are some examples of when a dog’s barking is acceptable, and shouldn’t be considered a dog barking problem that needs correcting.
- The most obvious good reason your dog will bark is when he wants to warn you that something is approaching. Perhaps it is another dog or a stranger. This is an instinctual part of being a dog, and is an appropriate behavior that you don’t want to discourage. Having said that, your dog should be willing to stop his barking as soon as you tell him to stop. For instance, if your dog starts barking because he sees someone getting out of a car in front of your house, and you can see the person is not of any danger, you should be able to stop your dog’s barking with a simple command. On the other hand, if it is someone you want to discourage from coming onto your property (for example, some over-zealous religious types or your mother-in-law) , you may decide to let the barking continue a little longer.
- Another common reason your dog will bark is because he is happy and excited about something. I personally enjoy playing a lot with my dogs, and their barking at me and at each other while we play is just part of the fun. That is just the dog’s way of saying he is having a great time, and wants more of the same. This could potentially become a dog barking problem if one of them gets to barking excessively from over-excitement, or wanting more attention, so just quiet your dog down before he gets too carried away. A little excited barking is one thing, but constant loud barking is quite another and should be stopped. One consequence of too much barking when playing is that it can become a habit for your dog, and at that point it is now a dog barking problem after all-so always keep the barking while playing at a reasonable level.
- Your dog may get excited enough to give you a greeting bark when you come home. Once again, this is his way of communicating, and in this case he is happy enough to see you that is saying “Hi, glad you made it back” in doggy language and is not a dog barking problem, just some friendly communication. I don’t mind a few greeting barks to welcome me home, as long as it is very brief . If your dog is well adjusted he should be glad to see you, but not overly noisy about it. If you tell your dog to be quiet after a few barks that should be all it takes to silence the barking. If the barking goes on too long, then it is a dog barking problem you should correct.
- Another common time that your dog might normally bark is when you are playing with him. Naturally he is excited and his barking is how he tells you he is having a great time and wants even more fun. When I play with my dogs, this is a natural part of our play, and is limited to occasional playful barking. If a dog begins to bark incessantly while playing it has become a dog barking problem and you should correct him and stop the barking. Some dogs will try to use their barking as a way of bullying you into playing with them. I used to be a sucker for this with my Lab. She had me very well trained to play ball with her whenever she wanted. Actually, you should be the one to initiate the play or at least decide when to play. Otherwise you are letting the dog be the boss of you, and that isn’t good for your ability to train. You have to be the Alpha dog, so don’t let your dog’s invitation to play become a bullying act.
In the second half of this article, I have listed the 5 most common reasons why dogs will bark for extended periods of time, without an apparent reason to continue the barking. This excessive barking is definitely a dog barking problem need to be fixed, and is something that every dog owner should feel responsible for correcting if their dog has this problem. Please continue reading Dog Barking Problems, Part 2.
For ideas on how to deal with the barking problems, please read my article for ways to correct your own dog’s problem barking, Stop Dog Barking
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