Dogs bark for many reasons including:
– They are excited!
– They are nervous or scared
– They are giving a warning
– They are trying to get the attention of another animal or human
– They have a true anxiety disorder
Some breeds tend to bark more than others, but even individual pets within a breed with bark more or less than their counterparts. I have a personal love of the Schnauzer breeds and have found that the miniatures seem to bark much more than the standards or giants. Even amongst my miniature Schnauzers, some have just been more “barky” than others.
What to do if your dog is barking too much.
– First, realize that barking is normal, healthy, and a primary communication tool for dogs. If your dog barks for 5 minutes every time you come home, but then settles down and relaxes after that, she’s probably just excited to see you!
– Try increasing positive attention and rewarding the behavior you DO want. For example, give a command such as “Sit” and then give him lots of love and attention when he does it. I try to avoid giving attention when they are barking so that they do not learn that barking is the best way to get your attention. I’d rather give attention when they are being quiet or doing a command to reinforce that behavior.
– Increase walks or other mental stimulation (puzzle toys, short training sessions, etc.) so that they have something more interesting to do than bark at daily things. – Discuss desensitization training with your vet or dog trainer to help teach Fido that the mundane things he barks at, are probably not a big deal.
– Be cautious with bark collars and consider seeing a veterinarian or behaviorist before trying one. I have seen bark collars used effectively and safely as part of an overall training program. However, I have also seen them used in dogs with true anxiety disorders. These dogs tend to decrease their barking, but then begin to display their anxiety in different ways (inappropriate urination or defecation in the house, obsessive behaviors, extreme panting/shaking, etc.).
– In cases of true anxiety disorders, a combination of medication prescribed by a veterinarian and training – usually with a professional trainer – is the best long term solution.
