Dogs bark - there's no denying it or stopping it completely! One of the most common questions we get asked is 'How do I stop my dog barking...'
- at the TV
- when he sees other dogs
- when he meets people
- at cats/birds/squirrels
- when i come home
- when we leave the house for a walk
- when the doorbell goes
- when I'm cooking/eating
- for no reason!
I get it, barking can be very annoying and embarrassing. It can seem quite unnecessary but to our dogs it has many purposes! What we often forget is that we speak a different language to our dogs and many things get lost in translation. Whilst humans main form of communication is auditory (speaking/listening) our dogs primarily communicate through body language, both giving us visual signs and also by watching the signals our body gives off - it's a subtle language and one that doesn't come naturally for us
Our dogs will bark, often as a last resort, they've tried to communicate in their way, but it doesn't work so they make noise in an attempt to speak 'human' so rather than asking how we stop them from barking, we need to start listening and ask ourselves...
- what do they need?
- how can I help?
- how can I understand them better?
- what can I do to help them feel different or express themselves in another way?
Types of Barks
You may have noticed your dog has different types of barks, with a different pitch, frequency and tone - each one will have a different reason, here are just a few to consider...
- Alert
- Demand
- Fearful
- Aggressive
- Excitement
- Frustration
- Wary/Nervous
- Anxious
Should I just ignore it?
Choosing to simply ignore barking, rarely works and there are a few reasons....
When dogs repeatedly do something, and get a result (attention, a walk, being told to shh) the barking - works! Why stop doing it?
It can become self-rewarding and helps them to feel better in the moment. If something makes you feel good - why stop doing it?
If we tell them (or try to make them) be quiet without addressing the why, we are cutting off communication and autonomy and potentially creating a larger problem for the future
What can I do?
Firstly try to work out the reason for the barking, keep a diary (what happens before, during and after barking) as this gives you valuable information to start trying to unpick the behaviour. You can then start to create new habits to break the barking cycle and/or work to change the emotions that cause the barking. In either case it's worth consulting a professional to help you!