Why dogs bark.
Woof.
Woof.
Woof.
The first time a puppy does it, it’s cute. Perhaps even the second.
There comes a point however when that barking becomes problematic. Why do dogs bark? Your evening can be ruined when your dogs bark at the television or the road. Our mostly-boxer Winnie was affectionately called Barkydog for a reason. Seemingly random, she would set off barking at the neighbours, the television, and vehicles passing by.
Even then however, we were able to quell the barking by telling her to stop.
It isn’t as easy in the kennel however. Day or night, dogs barking in the kennel can go from interruption to nuisance to even worse. Bark at the wrong dog and a fight could erupt. Bark too long overnight and the neighbours complain.
Here are seven reasons why a dog will bark.
1. Dogs Bark From Excitement
This is the easiest to recognize as you play with your dog. It’s time to party and whether they’re playing with you or another dog, they get excited. We see it all the time at the kennel. The good news is, this passes once your dog switches gears into a calm state. That’s why it’s important to have downtime after play.
2. Dogs Bark For Attention
You know when you’re trying to talk to your neighbour while walking your dog and they just won’t stop barking at you? Look at me, they say. Look at me. Barking for attention is a difficult to correct, especially in the kennel when a dog is in their own suite. At home, you need to be mindful of your reaction so you reward the behaviour you want emulated, not the behaviour you want them to stop.
3. Dogs Bark From Boredom
Boredom is connected to attention. Generally, it comes from a dog who is left without anything to do. Sometimes it develops for dogs left in a yard or crate for extended amounts of time without anything to engage them. This type of barking can often be accompanied by other repetitive behaviours.
4. Fear, Anxiety, and Territorial
Whether a dog has had limited socialization or if they’ve been attacked, the result could be snapping or barking at others. This could also manifest as dogs barking at others approaching their territory. Dogs who bark for this reason do so in a heightened state of stress.
5. Dogs Bark From Pain
A dog in pain can have many different reactions, but often they don’t want to be touched. As a result, they will do what they can to communicate that they don’t want you near them. The pain will sometimes be obvious like a sore foot or leg while at others, it could be invisible like internal injuries. A dog will usually let their own family investigate, but even then, sometimes they won’t let you near.
6. Reactivity or Startlement
Although wounds heal, sometimes the emotional response dogs have to being attacked is to become reactive. This may be on-leash or off, but often they will bark at other dogs. This type of barking can worsen when we have our dogs on leash as they learn from our reaction. Essentially, by trying to keep our dogs away from a reactive situation, they become more reactive. This type of barking also occurs when other dogs start barking in the kennel. One starts and the others join.
7. Dementia
Near the end for Winnie, she developed dementia. She would bark at the wind. Unfortunately for dogs with dementia, there is no cure. Eventually, they will continue to bark, even at their own family.
How to stop the barking
Understanding whether a dog’s barking is acute or systemic is important to helping them stop the behaviour. In any case, correcting a behaviour like barking takes time and consistency.
Too often, our desire to help our puppies teaches them that barking is all they need to do to get what they want. Bowing to their every need can reward them for the wrong things. Instead, we need to recognize the other signs our dogs give to determine what they’re saying. Here are 5 things you can do to help your dog at home and make their stay at a boarding kennel less stressful.
Ignore the barking
When you recognize attention barking, the next step is to ignore them. You can make it a game or wait until they quiet and then reward them for the silence. We can do this with treats and other basic training tactics. What’s important is to be consistent and ensure everyone participates in the protocol. A dog may often not recognize the difference between a good response and a poor one so yelling at them to stop when they’re looking for attention is still a reward for them. Over time as you reward the behaviour of waiting to be acknowledged, then it will be enshrined as the only option.
Engagement
If a dog starts barking, whether for attention or boredom, engaging them will keep their minds occupied.
Exercise
When a dog is tired, they generally go to sleep. Our goal at the kennel is to give our guests as much exercise as we can. It works well for kennels that have private suites like ours when they can’t see others from their room. At home, that exercise will double as engagement, so they won’t demand more.
Environmental enrichment
At the kennel, we start with music, but sometimes other dogs barking can become overwhelming. Some dogs need a quiet zone so they have to be separated from other dogs who have been barking. Thankfully with two buildings at our boarding kennel, we’re able to separate them to reduce stress.
Teaching new commands
Teaching your dog to sit and stay are great ways to start the process of training them to self-soothe. The next step is to teach them their place, whether that’s their crate or a bed. Dogs who are comfortable with their place will look for attention less and have often developed coping mechanisms for being left alone.
Mental stimulation
Speaking of coping mechanisms, giving your dog toys for mental stimulation helps them reach a state of mind to help them stay calm. These could include fillable chew toys, treat puzzles, or bones.
Addressing Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can be expressed in several different ways such as barking, scratching at the door, and spilling food or water. It can often lead to boredom, but more often, attention seeking. At the kennel, dogs bark in their rooms in an attempt to be with the people. You may see this at home if your neighbours complain about them barking when you go to work. The pandemic was especially difficult for many dogs as people found themselves at home more often. The anxiety developed when everyone went back to work.
When it comes to anxious dogs, there are many different options, including:
- Training
- Medication
- Desensitization (exposure therapy)
Separation anxiety is a very complex issue and will often need time, including your vet and a behaviourist, to ensure you are addressing the true problem. When it comes to medication, there are several options that you can discuss with your vet, but they come in two primary groups, long-acting which is often use for desensitization and short-acting which is for event-based destressing.
Remove them from the stressful situation
When it comes to dogs who are stressed, the barking is only the beginning. Whether it’s fear or anxiety, when a dog is in the stressful state, it will often be impossible to communicate with them until you remove them from the situation. Unfortunately, whether the dog has a previous bite history against them or against others, they will often escalate to a point where we can’t engage with them. That’s why it’s so important to have an emergency contact who can come for your pets.
Technology
There are new technologies designed to curb your dog’s barking, however they should be used only after consultation with your vet as some of them may have unintended consequences.
What a kennel needs
Our goal at the kennel is to provide an environment that reduces stress, but we rely on the honesty and preparedness of our guests. Recognizing that your dog may not be the same at the kennel is important. We invite you to bring toys and other items that will help a dog to remain calm. This may include clothing of yours, their bed, or their crates. Unfortunately, when a dog won’t stop barking, it can negatively affect other guests. This is part of the reason why we’ve instituted trial days to ensure your pets are calm when they come or if necessary, train them to become calm by having them come several times to desensitize them to the environment. We are committed to helping you and your pets make the best of their stay and welcome any questions or concerns you may have. That said, when we have a pet who cannot be soothed, our best choice is to ask you to pick them up.
Another option is privacy. Check out our article on privacy here.
LOYALIST BARKWAY
Where your dog gets the loyal treatment
9675 HWY 33, BATH, ON K0H 1G0
info@dogboardingkennels.ca
613-777-5024