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Excessive Barking (part 1) The Number One Reason Why Dogs Become Excessive Barkers
Dogs are not born as problem dogs. Instead, they become problem dogs as a result of human dog owner inadequacies. The shortcomings of dog owners are to blame as the real culprit for bad behaving dogs. And although most serious canine problems tend to develop during the most critical period of a dog's life, which is during the first 8 weeks of puppyhood, many issues can develop at any time as the dog grows into an adult.
One of the most common dog behavior problems that many of you can relate to is excessive barking. This is the dog that makes all of your neighbors regret having you live nearby! This annoying barking habit will keep people awake at night, severely get on people's nerves that are within hearing distance, and floods police lines with neighborhood complaints of noise.
The scary part about having a dog that barks excessively, especially if he is kept outside during the daytime, is that they can be the target of abuse or poisoning by sick-minded individuals living in your neighborhood. I'm not trying to scare you or anything but the truth is that every day dogs are reported to have been poisoned from an unknown substance which usually results from a disgruntled neighbor.
Is Your Dog Lonely?
Most dogs that are guilty of excessive barking have developed this behavioral issue for no better reason than that of loneliness. Of course there are other reasons, and to be certain we will discuss them later, but canine loneliness has been proven to be the number one culprit for excessive barking behavior.
Dogs are just like children when it comes to the need for companionship. And when these animals have nobody around for long periods of time, sheer loneliness will cause them to invent games and make toys out of whatever is available. From the start of these invented games comes habits that progress and create a problematic dog.
Inside Your Dog's Mind
What goes on inside your dog's mind as he is barking excessively? What does he do when he is lonely? What is it about being alone that gets dogs all excited and noisy?
Your dog's world consists of everything within his reach. For those of you that keep your pet at home during the day while you're at work, the entire house is his domain. If you keep your dog out on a rope that is securely tied to your backyard, everything within the circumference of his paws are fair game. And when he reaches the end of that rope, loneliness can set in, and quick!
Your dog may spot a bird or a cat outside the window or on top of the backyard fence. All of a sudden he is in a frenzy as he sees a potential playmate. He starts to cry, then scratch at the door, window, or the fence. Then the barking sets in, becoming louder and louder as he wants to play with any moving object he sees outside, but cannot seem to get to it.
Woof! Woof! Woof! - as he attempts over and over to see what is going on and to find somebody or something to play with him. Woof! Woof! Woof! - louder and louder the barking becomes, matched with frustration and eventually barking at anything he sees. A plane flying over, a bird swooping too close, the bushes that are moving in the wind all of which your dog begins to bark excessively at, trying to get its attention. Nothing seems to help and your dog only knows one thing: BARK! BARK! BARK!
If he barks long enough, he figures that something will happen, somebody will play with him, or one of those neighborhood animals will join in a game of chase. As you can imagine, this is the type of experience that no house dog should have to go through, and then be punished because of its barking problems.
BONUS : Excessive Barking (Part 2): Are You Supporting Your Dog's Barking Without Even Knowing It?
Dogs that have a problem with excessive barking and constant whining are not displaying bad behavior as most dog owners unjustly assume. Instead, these dogs are just reaching out for some attention. Excessive barking is simply an issue that has to do with loneliness. In fact, loneliness is typically the number one reason why a dog will resort to behavior problems.
If the motivator is loneliness, then you have to understand that the only form of expression a dog has is to bark. And when he barks, it is attention in which the animal is seeking. It does not matter what kind of attention he gets. Dogs were never very adept to understanding the human language anyhow!
Discipline Gone Wrong
Now if you resort to paddling your dog's backside in the attempt to fix the barking issue, the only real accomplishment that the dog would learn is to stay out of reach the next time around. And of course, there will be a next time, as soon as the lights are turned off, or when your bedroom door is shut, if the dog is left in the backyard alone, etc.
Another mistake dog owners make is by supporting the very barking behavior in which they are trying to stop in the first place. For example, what if your dog is in the backyard and barking wildly at night, what do you do? Most dog owners, reaching their boiling point with frustration, would pull the dog into the house so that the neighbors do not complain and can get some sleep. However, although such action may be deemed commendable by your thankful neighbors, taking the dog inside will only perpetuate the problem.
In fact, you can guarantee a repeat performance tomorrow night, and every night thereafter, so long as the dog barks, an you come outside and provide attention by bringing him inside the house. And the one thing you can guarantee is that your dog will learn that, by barking, you will show up and give him attention!
Dog's Learn By Associating Their Actions With A Pleasing Or A Displeasing Result
Many dog owners unwittingly create and instigate certain bad habits that their pets have developed, such as excessive barking problems. For example, one extreme case in point is a man who would put a bowl of food in front of his dog every time it barked. Her reasoning for this action was My dog can't bark and be a problem if something is in his mouth. As you can guess, this repeated action only confirmed in her dog's mind that barking is a good thing and that tasty treats are the result.
Another example is the family that decided to finally get a dog that the kids have been wanting for years. Instead of buying a young puppy, they decided to adopt an adult dog from the local Humane Society. As soon as the new dog was on the front lawn, a stranger walked by the house and the dog began to bark incessantly.
Of course Dad was elated at how his new dog was such a wonderful guard dog so he showered the animal with kisses and affection. Needless to say, their new family protector was instantly taught that barking was good and that he should bark excessively at anything that moves within visual distance. In time, these dogs' acts of courage turn into acts of nuisance to everyone in the neighborhood.
Dogs that have a problem with excessive barking and constant whining are not displaying bad behavior as most dog owners unjustly assume. Instead, these dogs are just reaching out for some attention. Excessive barking is simply an issue that has to do with loneliness. In fact, loneliness is typically the number one reason why a dog will resort to behavior problems.
If the motivator is loneliness, then you have to understand that the only form of expression a dog has is to bark. And when he barks, it is attention in which the animal is seeking. It does not matter what kind of attention he gets. Dogs were never very adept to understanding the human language anyhow!
Discipline Gone Wrong
Now if you resort to paddling your dog's backside in the attempt to fix the barking issue, the only real accomplishment that the dog would learn is to stay out of reach the next time around. And of course, there will be a next time, as soon as the lights are turned off, or when your bedroom door is shut, if the dog is left in the backyard alone, etc.
Another mistake dog owners make is by supporting the very barking behavior in which they are trying to stop in the first place. For example, what if your dog is in the backyard and barking wildly at night, what do you do? Most dog owners, reaching their boiling point with frustration, would pull the dog into the house so that the neighbors do not complain and can get some sleep. However, although such action may be deemed commendable by your thankful neighbors, taking the dog inside will only perpetuate the problem.
In fact, you can guarantee a repeat performance tomorrow night, and every night thereafter, so long as the dog barks, an you come outside and provide attention by bringing him inside the house. And the one thing you can guarantee is that your dog will learn that, by barking, you will show up and give him attention!
Dog's Learn By Associating Their Actions With A Pleasing Or A Displeasing Result
Many dog owners unwittingly create and instigate certain bad habits that their pets have developed, such as excessive barking problems. For example, one extreme case in point is a man who would put a bowl of food in front of his dog every time it barked. Her reasoning for this action was My dog can't bark and be a problem if something is in his mouth. As you can guess, this repeated action only confirmed in her dog's mind that barking is a good thing and that tasty treats are the result.
Another example is the family that decided to finally get a dog that the kids have been wanting for years. Instead of buying a young puppy, they decided to adopt an adult dog from the local Humane Society. As soon as the new dog was on the front lawn, a stranger walked by the house and the dog began to bark incessantly.
Of course Dad was elated at how his new dog was such a wonderful guard dog so he showered the animal with kisses and affection. Needless to say, their new family protector was instantly taught that barking was good and that he should bark excessively at anything that moves within visual distance. In time, these dogs' acts of courage turn into acts of nuisance to everyone in the neighborhood.
