Controlling a Barking Dog
By Bob Foster
Most people want their dogs to alert them to anything unusual happening. In two scientific studies of dog owners, about one-third reported their dogs barked excessively. In order to control a barking dog we first must understand why they bark.
Dogs use many different sounds to communicate. It starts very early in life. Young puppies make mewing sounds when they are searching for food or warmth. As they get older they make five main sounds: howls, growls, grunts, whines and barks. These sounds are used for a different reason.
Howls are used as a means of long range communication in many different circumstances. Howling is generally associated with wolves, but dogs also howl. Wolves ofter howl to signify territorial boundaries, find other pack members, coordinate activities such as hunting or attract other wolves for mating. Dogs may howl as a reaction to certain sounds such as sirens.
Growling may occur in a variety of activities. It is used to threaten, warn, in defense, in aggression, and to show dominance. But growling can also occur in play as well. Looking at the dogs posture we should be able to tell the difference. Growls during aggression are usually often accompanied by a stare or snarl, and the growling dog often remains still. Play growls often occur in a combination with a happy tail a play bow to signal a willingness to play. They are generally moving and jumping to entice play.Grunts are the equivalent of a contented sigh in people. They are often heard when dogs are greeting each other or people.
Whines or whimpers are modes of communication. Dogs may whine when they greet each other, as a show of submissiveness, are frustrated, in pain, to obtain attention or sometimes in defense. Dogs generally whine more than wolves, probably because they use it more as an attention getter and are often rewarded for it. The first sound you may hear from a new puppy is a whine at night when he finds himself alone. We often are guilty of reinforcing this whining by giving the puppy the attention he wants.
Barking is another form of communication that seems to be more common in dogs than other canine species. This also may be the result of our encouragement. Certain breeds have been bred to bark as part of their watchdog or herding duties. Barking is used to alert or warn others or to defend a territory. It is also used to seek attention, or identify oneself to another dog and as a response to boredom, excitement, being startled, lonely, anxious, or teased.
A dog may be man's best friend, but continuous excessive barking can test that friendship. Many towns have disturbance ordinances against loud and prolonged noise. There are several remedies available to control this problem. Surgical remedies are not only expensive but permanently eliminates a dog's natural ability to bark. A bark collar is your answer to stop excessive barking.
Bark collars come in a couple of groups. One senses both sound and vibration, and only a combination of sound and vibration will trigger an electronic correction. This technology prevents the collar being activated by other noises or another dogs bark. Another choice would be spray control anti-bark collars. These operate from a battery in the receiver collar, and when the dog barks a burst on all-natural citrus spray is emitted. Dogs find this spray bothersome to their highly developed sense of smell, but while not harmful, it is a sufficient deterrent to excessive barking.
Bob Foster is the owner of Bob's Pet Supply. We carry hundreds of dog and cat items from dog doors, electric dog fencing, wireless dog fences, dog gates, replacement collars, dog shock collars, doggie doors, dog toys, dog grooming supplies, bark control collars, underground fences, dog ramps, and dog containment systems. Please visit our website at http://www.bobspetsupply.com
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