An article on responsible pet ownership by Philip Butt
There are two types of people in the world: people who like dogs and people who don’t. Much that we would like it some other way, we have to live together!
The dog hater could be your neighbor, boss, friend, or enemy. We make matters more difficult for our dogs and ourselves by having misbehaved dogs. I have to admit that even I, a person who LOVES dogs, get irritated when I’m confronted with dog owners who are acting badly, such as letting the dog pee and poo wherever he likes, not cleaning up after the dog, letting the dog bark his head off through the day, dog jumping on visitors, or worse dog attacking anyone in sight! Is it not surprising that societies and houseowners are banning dogs?
As responsible owners, it is our duty to ensure that the dog that gives us pleasure is not a pain to anyone else.
This series of articles will address various aspects of responsible pet ownership.
In this article, we will cover the problem of dog barking.
Dogs, being dogs, express themselves by barking, just as we do by talking. As pet parents, we need to understand this need and encourage it at times. However, it becomes a problem when the barking is ceaseless (or that’s how it may sometimes seem!). This is where we need to step in as pet parents and take responsibility for nipping the problem in the bud.
Each dog has its own reasons for barking, and the solutions are invariably equally varied. This makes generalising them into categories difficult. Here, we are talking about incessant/ continuous bark, which we want to resolve, and not the occasional bark, which, in my opinion, we should encourage. There are two things we need to know: Why does my dog bark, and what steps can I take?
Why do dogs bark?
- Anger: As a guard dog, when he sees an intruder. This sort of barking can further be classified as suspicion and aggression. While the former is easier to cure, the latter is often more difficult to resolve.
- Excitement: Most young dogs are very excitable by nature, as when your dog barks at food time or as you prepare to take him out.
- Anxiety: This is a state of nervous tension due to an actual or imagined threat. In dogs, anxiety is manifested in many forms – like separation anxiety, noise anxiety, etc.
Rules of rearing
- Socializing:
In broad terms, it means exposing the dog to various situations and reinforcing a desired behavior. Expose your pup to different people, places, objects, sounds, etc. When he shows undesired behaviour, just ignore it. Do not try to pet him or cajole him; this would reinforce the behaviour. When he is calm, go to him and praise him.
Crate training means getting your dog used to staying in an in-house kennel or crate when he is just a pup. I recommend it from the first day you get him. It is a very useful tool to control separation anxiety. A crate-trained dog will not whine and bark when he knows you are going out.
Win your puppy’s love and respect: This is easier said than done. For your dog to love and respect you as his boss, you need the right balance of play, praise, love, correction, firm handling, and discipline. Pet parents who want to live with their dog on ‘equal’ terms usually end up with demanding and spoilt pets.
- Balanced diet:
Coping with the barking problem
- Try to identify the cause. It would be smart to try to remove that cause. If your dog starts barking at the sound of your scooter starting, push a distance and start it there. If he barks at other dogs, put a screen in front of his kennel or your gate.
- Give your dog sufficient exercise, especially if you have a dog that barks away when you are not around. Tiring him before you leave is a good option. Not to mention the health benefits he will derive from the rigorous exercise. You will have to gradually build up the exercise schedule. If running with the dog is not your cup of tea, teach him to retrieve on command; a few long-distance retrieves are enough to wear out a hyper dog.
- Gradual acclimatization to new people or situations would help. If your dog barks at strangers and you don’t desire it, let them come closer in your presence. Reassure the dog that they are harmless, and as soon as your dog is quiet, treat and praise him. Build up over time till they can come close and pet him. Use different people. This might not be easy, especially with a dog with aggressive intent. Basic obedience training would make a difference in allowing you to communicate with your dog and expect a desired response.
- Speaking of training, teaching your dog the ‘speak’ command is never too late. Once you identify the trigger that makes your dog, give him the command “Murphy speak” just as he is about to bark. Immediately praise him and offer a treat. If he barks incessantly, just ignore it. Again, after some time, tell him to ‘speak’ and reward him for obeying. The trick is that while you’re still rewarding him for barking, he has to keep silent in between barks to get the treat. Once he has mastered the ‘speak,’ use the same reverse technique to teach him the ‘quiet’ command. With patience, you will soon have a dog that keeps quiet and on command.
- If your dog is the type who barks in your absence, you will have to use the ‘creep and peep’ technique. After leaving the premises and leaving your dog out of sight, creep back from another route and look out till he stops barking. As soon as he stops barking, run up to him and praise and treat him. Another variation of the ‘creep and peep’ technique is to correct the dog by scolding him if you find him barking on your return. Either way, the dog must be surprised by your return.
- Finally, it will be important to remind you that training will help you overcome this problem, but you have to be persistent. These habits get ingrained with time. The more you delay the training programme, the longer it will take. The best time to start is now.
