Lack
Of Understanding Your Dog
By Jacqui O'Brien CFBA
Dogs are
sociable creatures and enjoy vocal communication. They soon
learn to obtain our attention and get what they want on demand,
before we realise that we are being manipulated. We, often
inadvertently reinforce the undesirable behaviour.
A successful
cure or control of most problems will certainly mean modifying
the owners behaviour towards the dog.
Problem
Barking
It is important
to understand that barking is not the problem but the lack
of control. There are probably more situations that a dog owner
wants their dog to give voice than not.
Before trying
to cure a problem, we must understand the underlying reason
for its occurrence.
Barking
from your dog's point of view is quiet natural behaviour. Dogs
have a repertoire of auditory communications. They range from
whines, yelps and screams, grunts, growling, tooth snapping,
through to barking and less common howling. These sounds are
used in different contexts and associated with various behaviour.
Barking
is used -
In Defence of itself or you and your property
In Play
As a Greeting
When left Alone
Calling for Attention
Used as a Warning
The
domestic dog learns to use its voice in many different situations
often with our help.
Some of
the following may be familiar: -
When your
dog rushes to the front door barking - do you shout after it
to
"Shut Up"?
When your
dog barks in the car at something - do you try to shout above
the barking "Shut Up"?
When your
pup / dog goes to the door and asks [yaps or barks] to go out
- do you let it out and when it asks to come in - do you let
it in?
When your
dog brings a toy to you, putting it on your lap or at your
feet then barks for you to play - Do you pick it up, throw
it for your dog, and have a game.
When your
dog is yapping or barking at something that is out of reach
- do you get it and give it to your dog.
If your
answer to any of the above is yes then do not blame the dog
you have actually reinforced your dog's barking.
If your
dog continues barking with your shouts to shut up your dog
thinks that you are joining in with the barking - to your dog
your shouts sound like barking, "whoopee" all the
pack is barking lets continue.
You have
taught your dog that barking gets your attention and you respond
to your dog's demands.
There are
going to be situations that you are pleased that your dog has
given voice.
Your pup
asking to go out to relieve itself
Your dog
warning you that a stranger has come onto your property.
It is difficult
for your dog to be selective it can bark once to give you warning
or it can bark until an unwanted stranger leaves your property.
What to
do -
Firstly,
keep calm do not join in with your dog's excitement,
Do not shout commands your dog is going to learn to ignore.
There are
several ways commonly used to modify a dog's behaviour
Ignore your
dog's demands - which often works the dog gets fed up and shuts
up. There is always the exception and they just keep on and
on and on.
The use
of orienting stimuli to distract and interrupt unwanted behaviour
this can be sound or scent.
There are
a variety of applications on the market from gas - propelled
and electronic alarms, some ultrasonic others very loud. Devices
that automatically release water or citronella spray, at the
moment the dog barks. Problem, they are not selective and could
stop the dog barking at all times; also they can be set off
by another dogs bark. If the dog is barking from stress, it
will make the dog more anxious. The most useful would be a
remote control mechanism so you can time its use - you are
in control.
The use
of a Non-Vocal conditioned stimulus to interrupt undesired
barking. A few pebbles in a can or metal discs on a ring. To
obtain the initial response it is thrown near the dog to interrupt
the barking giving you a few seconds to give calm praise while
the dog is quiet. Then the tin or discs are just rattled. This
method will work but it requires excellent timing, skill and
a steady hand so as not to give prior warning before its use
as this could make your dog apprehensive to your slightest
movement.
Teach your
dog to bark on command then teach it to be quiet. This takes
a little more effort but is more reliable being a positive
learning process, your dog will enjoy learning a new trick
and having your attention, it can be fun for you as well.
It may seem
strange, to teach the dog the behaviour you are trying to stop.
But if you look at it logically, if you can teach your dog
to do something you have the power / control to also stop the
action.
