Too Much Barking Can Hide Problems

When Poochie barks and barks, something may be wrong.

Man’s best friend can quickly become anything but that with incessant barking.  But there is hope for canines whose barks really are worse than their bites.

Dr. Bonnie Beaver, a veterinarian and certified behaviorist at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, says dogs bark for several reasons.

“Most importantly, dogs bark as a warning that someone or something is approaching,” explains Beaver.

“It can be a threat to the person approaching or a notice to whatever is coming.”

Dogs can also bark out of excitement, the need for attention or simply boredom. Some pooches may even join a chorus of barking dogs as a demonstration of canine unity.

“Dogs bark more than their wolf cousins, and it has been speculated that in the domestication process, we have selected certain puppy traits, one of which is barking,” says Beaver.

Many owners appreciate a simple warning bark, but when they begin to receive complaints from the neighbors, they may need to assess their dog’s behavior. Beaver notes that some dog breeds are more easily stimulated to bark, but she adds that, in general, a dog should not bark often.

As a behaviorist, Beaver corrects inappropriate barking by determining the cause of the dog’s vocalizing and educating the owner on steps that should be taken to correct the problem.

“There isn't a single course of action,” says Beaver.

A veterinarian or behaviorist specifically tailors the process to the dog, the owner and the cause of the excessive barking.

Despite the fact that a dog may need professional attention, an owner can help at home by not reinforcing bad behavior and rewarding good behavior. If a dog knows that it will receive attention for barking, it will likely bark for a longer period of time, Beaver says.

“If the dog learns that the owner will bring it inside, pet it or talk to it, the dog will continue to bark until it gets the correct owner response,” says Beaver.

“Each correct response only reinforces the behavior more, meaning the dog will bark even for hours to get the expected attention.”

Instead, Beaver suggests that the owner of a vocal canine reward the dog when it is quiet. The pet owner should give the animal some sort of affirmation that silence is preferred.

Although a warning bark can be a blessing, a barking habit can be a nuisance. If a four-legged friend takes up barking as a hobby, owners can seek professional help from a local veterinarian or behaviorist, and, Beaver adds, they should remember that changing their pet’s behavior starts at home.

Source: http://our-news.tamu.edu/newsmanager/templates/?a=3249&z=15