To Bark Or Not To Bark? That Is The Question
Author: Kay Stevens
Why don’t we want a dog to bark?
Why does a dog bark?
We don’t want a dog to bark because it is NOISE and we humans don’t like noise unless we are the ones making it. With other noise (barking) we find it irritating, stressful, intrusive, painful and just downright annoying. Therefore, we are protecting our own comfort zone.
What about the dog’s comfort zone?
So, why does a dog bark?
A dog will bark for the same reason a baby cries - he is trying to tell us something. Try putting yourself in the following situations:
1. You’re uneducated. You don’t know right from wrong, get bored, get aggressive. You YELL from sheer frustration.
An untrained dog will bark.
Train your dog. When he is barking continuously, go to him and say sharply ‘NO’. When he stops barking reward him with a treat. Keep doing this and after a while he will know that it is wrong, he is upsetting you and he will get a treat for stopping. Also, give your dog plenty of attention and exercise.
2. You’re alone. Someone’s walking by. You yell out “How’re going?”
When your dog sees a person or another dog walking past, couldn’t he be asking this question?
When you leave your dog by himself, ensure he has toys to occupy him. Treat balls are great. Leave an article of your clothing with him so he has your scent. Leave the radio on. As a pup, leave him alone for short periods so he gets used to it.
3. You feel sick. You whinge. Sometimes your dog would bark.
Ensure your dog has regular vet checkups and vaccinations.
4. You’re hungry and thirsty. Wouldn’t you make a NOISE and bark?
Make sure your dog has a good, sensible diet and fresh water.
5. You are chained to a fence, locked in a small room or being abused. How would you like that? You would scream for help.
If outside, use a tether stake, if inside, use a dog pen in a decent area. Use only in extreme circumstances.
6. You are provoked by someone. Wouldn’t you retaliate by yelling? Your dog would bark.
Don’t allow anyone to tease your dog. Keep him away from untrained, aggressive dogs.
Some dogs will bark continuously no matter what you have done to curb it. It is built into their personality. If this is the case with your dog, there are various products available to curb incessant barking.
These products are electronic bark collars, citronella bark collars, sound emitting collars, remote sound emitters, muzzles and medication.
Please remember that your dog is protecting his territory and yours. His immediate response is to bark if he feels that this could be violated. Therefore, barking is good but excessive barking needs to be curbed.
My last question is:
Would you rather have an expensive alarm system or a barking dog to warn you of danger?
I like this article but was wondering if you have some advice for me. I have 3 dogs, one of which is a 1 year old smooth Collie. They have been trained to bark whenever they hear a strange car pulling in the driveway or, since we are adjoining the national forest in Colorado, if they feel threatened by other animals nearing our property. I have a neighbor that just moved in this past October and he shoots his gun whenever he hears any of my dogs bark. They do not bark constantly so I don’t know if there is anything I can do to curtail their barking even feeling threatened. Any suggestions? (I have lived in this same neighborhood for the past 10 years. My other two dogs are 10 years old and 5 years old - both gotten when they were about 6 months old.)
Your assistance and input is greatly appreciated!
Elaina