Barking usually comes up with clients as an unwanted behaviour and I get it, if your dog excessively barks at every noise in the garden or everyone who passes by the front window, it can be extremely frustrating and stressful. Living in London and being in such close quarters with your neighbours, barking can become a big deal.
It is important to understand that dogs don’t bark to annoy you. Barking is communication, and it is our job to understand what they need from us.
If you have an issue with excessive barking it is best to work with a qualified trainer or behaviourist, but here is a bit of information about two common circumstances to help you decipher what your dog is trying to say:
‘Alert’
Alert barking relates to your dog barking in response to something new or unexpected in the environment. This could be someone at the door, an animal in the garden, a stranger passing by the window, or anything that is out of the ordinary for your dog. They may be trying to alert you directly or trying to tell the unexpected visitor to go away. If your dog barks at everything that moves, try putting a window film or shutters across the window to help limit their sightline.
‘Attention’
As I said before, barking is communication, and attention barking isn’t your dog being a diva or stubborn, they are likely trying to tell you something. Barking excessively at the owner can be tied to medical issues. Your dog could simply be saying ‘I don’t feel well!’. With any sudden change in behaviour, it is vital to have a vet check before addressing the issue with a trainer or behaviourist. Often, attention barking is a result of lack of stimulation and enrichment throughout the day. Your dog is saying ‘I’m bored!’. A couple walks a day may not be stimulating enough for your dog. Sometimes walks are even stressful, especially in busy city environments. Discover what your dog likes to do – are they an avid sniffer? Or a skilled shredder? Add activities to your dog’s schedule that they enjoy. Brief moments of play with you are also important for building trust and a bond with your dog, so bring out your inner silly and have some fun!
There can be many other situations for which your dog is barking (like frustration or anxiety) and in any situation the best course of action is taking a step back, consider the situation and environment, and ask ‘why?’. Observe what happens after they have stopped, did something happen to make them stop? Did they do something that made them stop? Avoid punishing your dog for barking as this can often exacerbate the issue. If we approach behaviours like barking with understanding and empathy, then we are more likely to discover effective, long-lasting solutions that benefit you and your dog. 🙂