Barking…its one thing that most visitors and volunteers at the SPA comment on. As the dogs see you walking past their kennels they bark, really bark! This is mostly due to excitement, a bit of boredom and of course they certainly want to get your attention so they get taken for their walk!
One of the most common after adoption help issues that we are asked to deal with is barking, This isn’t because rescue dogs bark more than non-rescues it just that most people don’t realise that barking is in fact how dogs communicate with us.
If your dog barks, there is a reason why. It may be simply a response to a stimulus, like a jogger running by the house, boredom, excitement or it may be your dog’s way of asking for help. You need to find out why your dogs bark in order to stop them from barking.
So lets look at why dogs bark…
Being left ‘home alone’ for long periods of time with nothing to do would make the best of us look for some sort of entertainment, dogs are no different. Barking can be a way to relieve boredom. Some dogs become so attached to their owners that when they are left ‘home alone’ they start to panic. Barking and howling is the dogs way of trying to call its owner back.
Some dogs find that being able to see other dogs or even people through glass doors or windows very frustrating, this in turn leads to barking type behaviour. Being able to see and hear things that go on in everyday life can make dogs bark, especially guarding breeds or very sound sensitive breeds such as terriers or collies.
Barking as people approach the house is normal. I know that my dogs bark with excitement if they see anyone the know approach the house, others may bark as a warning! This is normal but its best to train them to stop after a few barks rather than continue and risk scaring away your visitors or annoying your neighbors!
And how to stop it…
For dogs who bark through boredom giving a dog something to do whilst it is left ‘home alone’ is very important: Pacifier toys such a Kongs, Activity Balls and Buster Cubes that can be filled with food, go a long way to solving this particular problem.
For those dogs that bark at things that they can see and hear it is recommended that the owner pulls the curtains shut and leaves the TV or radio on to drown out any external sounds that may cause their dog to bark.
If your dog barks outside at passer-byes, simply screen off their line of sight and if this isn’t possible be proactive and call your dog in when he barks or you hear someone coming.
There is nothing surer to drive neighbors mad than continual barking. If this is a problem then get professional help to stop it as soon as possible.
News from the refuge today is that puppy Samoa was adopted. A golden coloured female puppy was never going to have a long wait. Samoa had only been with us about 3 weeks and she is off to a new home! We did have two arrivals who were quickly reunited with their owners. So one less dog at the refuge tonight…fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Samoa adopted!
Woof woof!