Barking and other forms of vocalisation serve as a form of communication and are considered normal behaviour for dogs. Tensions arise when a dog is considered to bark excessively. Here we take a look at what you can do to help prevent and reduce problem barking.
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Dogs are social animals
Barking is considered a normal behaviour for dogs. Barking and other forms of vocalisation serve as a form of communication between individuals, such as to alert to an approaching threat. This ability was a seen as a good thing when humans were domesticating the dog. Breeds were developed based on individuals who were very good at alerting us to danger. A dog's hearing is about 4 times better than ours, and things they can hear (from some distance away) can be very arousing to a dog, whose response is often to bark.
Many dogs also vocalise when they are frustrated, excited or anxious. If dogs are left alone for long periods, they may become under-exercised, under-stimulated and may bark as a result.
Tensions arise when a dog is considered to bark excessively.
How can I help prevent my puppy becoming a barker?
There are quite a few things you can do when you first bring your puppy home to reduce the chance they will develop into an excessive barker.
Positive Socialisation
Ensure that your puppy is positively socialised, and that this continues for life.
Socialising your puppy involves introducing them to a whole range of new experiences including meeting different types of people, dogs, other animals, places, smells and noises. It’s important that these interactions are a positive experience for your puppy. Introduce them to new situations gently and reward them for calm behaviour.
Dogs that are under socialised may become fearful and suspicious of things they haven't encountered before. These things will be seen as a potential threat, and something that the dog then barks at.
Encourage calm
Develop a routine that encourages your puppy to display quiet and calm behaviour. Teach your puppy that it's OK to be alone for short periods and encourage their love of chew toys which helps keep them mentally stimulated.
Crate training helps reinforce happy, quiet time and teaches your puppy that the night is for sleeping, not for barking at cats or possums!
Training
Teach your puppy to 'speak' on cue, along with the alternative command 'shush' to stop the barking. This is a lot easier than trying to teach your puppy to be quiet when they are barking excessively (and in an aroused state). By practising these commands when your puppy is calm and focused, they'll make the learning connection. You then have an effective cue to offer them when you want them to stop barking.
My dog seems to be barking a lot, what can I do?
Ideally, determine the cause of the barking. Keep a barking diary where all members of the household (as well as neighbours) note down the times of day when the dog barks. From this, it may be possible to understand what triggers the barking.
Another option, especially if your dog only seems to bark when you’re not home, is to use video surveillance to observe what your dog is doing. Only when you understand why your dog barks can you start working to reduce the noise. Options include changing the way your dog is managed, changing the places they have access to, covering over fences or gates to reduce visual stimuli or allowing your dog a better view of the world. Sometimes the answer is to bring your dog inside the house when they are most likely to bark, or when you're not at home.