Dog Barking: Understanding Reasons and Solutions
When there's a knock at the door or the doorbell rings, the dog barks immediately.
This behavior is rooted in the dog's instinct for selfprotection and territorial awareness. Typically, this sense begins to develop around the age of five months. The dog barks at strangers, as it perceives them as intruders or unwelcome entities. If the owner does not promptly correct this habit, it can persist throughout the dog's life.
So, how can this be addressed?
Firstly, it's important to understand why the dog barks. The dog views the person at the door as an invader, something to be disliked, and barking is its way of scaring them away. Visitors often retreat upon seeing a barking dog, reinforcing the belief in the dog's mind that barking makes the intruder disappear. Once this pattern is established, it can become a habit. After identifying the cause of the barking, consulting a dog trainer can help tailor a correction plan based on the dog's specific personality.
The dog barks at the sound of a phone ring.
Initially, the dog might bark out of curiosity, but if the owner gets annoyed during phone calls and either offers treats or comforts the dog, the dog learns to associate the phone ring with getting attention. This can lead to the dog barking at every phone ring, as it has learned that this behavior brings rewards.
How to correct this behavior?
Simply ignore the dog when it barks at the phone ring. With time, the dog will gradually stop the habit as it realizes that barking no longer produces the desired response.
The dog barks aimlessly in one direction.
Dogs have hearing four times more sensitive than humans, allowing them to detect sounds that we cannot. Barking in a particular direction indicates that the dog has heard something interesting or potentially threatening in that area.
Dogs may bark all night long.
This is a common occurrence in puppies who have just been weaned from their mothers. Being separated from their mother and placed in a new environment can be unsettling and frightening, especially at night when confined in a cage and observing the surroundings. The puppy's sense of unease and loneliness is exacerbated, leading to nighttime barking that can be quite heartwrenching.
How can we alleviate this situation?
Firstly, cover the puppy's cage with a dark, opaque cloth to create a sense of darkness. Secondly, place the puppy beside the owner's bed to allow it to hear the owner's breathing. If the puppy cries at night, gently pat the cage as one would comfort a child, repeating this action a few times. Over time, the crying should subside.
The dog barks when left alone at home.
Being left alone can make a dog feel anxious, especially towards outside noises that it perceives as intruders. Barking serves as a way to ward off these perceived threats and alleviate the dog's unease. Sometimes, it also expresses the dog's longing for its owner.
