BARKING-15 ways to keep the peace.

BARKING

15 ways to Keep the Peace

Your dog has been barking up the wrong tree lately.  In fact, it seems that  every time a leaf falls, the mail carrier calls or a car stalls, his outbursts shake the walls.

Barking is normal, and a little is okay.  It’s just that some dogs have more to say than others.  When your pooch doesn’t know when to call it quits, try these tips from the experts to help keep the baying at the bay.

FOR DOGS ONLY

     Exercise him often.  “A couple of good walks or play sessions a day can help your dog be calm,” says Bob Gutierrez, animal behavior coordinator at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.  “Instead of barking all day, he may sleep all day.”

     Let him chew it over.  Your dog will have a hard time barking if he’s busy chewing on bones or doggy toys.  “Chewing is a real stress-reducer and occupier of time,” says Gutierrez.  “If you’re going to be gone, give your dog his favorite chew treat just before you leave.”

     Give him something to think about.  If your dog often gets lonely—and—vocal—when you’re away, try rubbing your hands all over his chew treat before leaving.  “The scent will remind him of you, and he may not miss you as much,” Gutierrez says.

     Mask outside noises.  “If your dog is super-sensitive to noises in the environment, try blocking some of that noise so he’s not as inspired to bark,” says Gutierrez.  White noise machines can do the trick.  So can playing your stereo at a normal level.

     Catch up on your cleaning.  Turning on the vacuum cleaner can also block unwanted noises—the approaching steps of the mail carrier, for example—and prevent your pet from going into a barking frenzy, say Gutierrez.

     Thank him for his thoughts.  Sometimes just praising your pet will make him hush, says veterinarian Nicholas Dodman, B.V.M.S., professor in the Department of Surgery and director of the Behavior Clinic at the Tufts University School  of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Massachusetts.  “The dog may be trying to tell you something, and when you acknowledge him he may realize it’s okay to turn off the barking.

     Insist on quiet time.  Sometimes a dog will keep barking even after you acknowledge his watchdog woofs.  “Say ‘Quiet!’ sharply, but without yelling,” advises Dr. Dodman.  “If he blinks and stops barking, praise him warmly.”

It doesn’t hurt to occasionally give your pet a treat after the noise stops.  “what you’re doing is taking his mind off the barking and making him realize that it’s so good when he stops,” Dr. Dodman adds.

     Leave the party.  Some dogs, like people hate talking without an audience.  So if all your praises and commands fail to keep him quiet, leave.  “Chances are your dog wants you to hang around, so turning your back and leaving the room can make him see he’s doing something wrong,” says Dr. Dodman.

To reinforce the lesson, ring a bell (or sound a tuning fork) before leaving. “Let it ring for a couple of seconds, and when you think the dog hears it, leave,” Dr. Dodman says.  Over time, your dog will learn to associate the ringing with your leaving, and he’ll be more likely to keep his thoughts to himself.  It also helps to praise your pooch once he stops barking.

     Try a homemade shake.  A shake can has an effect on dogs that is the canine equivalent of fingernails on a blackboard.  Put some coins in an empty soda can and tape the opening shut.  When your barking pooch doesn’t respond to your command to be quiet, shake the can a couple of times, Gutierrez suggest.  “They don’t like the sound, so they often stop what they’re doing when they hear it,” he says.

     Dampen his enthusiasm.  To remind your dog that you’d appreciate some quiet time, give him a firm “No!” followed by a short blast with a squirt bottle.  “If they don’t like water, they’ll tend to stop,” says Gutierrez.  It’s best to aim for the body and not the face he adds.

     Seek deliverance from the mail carrier.  If your dog goes ballistic whenever people come to the door, you may need an accomplice.  One possible solution is to have your mail carrier slip a tasty treat through the door slot, suggest Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D., a certified applied animal behavior consultant in Littleton Colorado.  “Your dog may stop seeing these people as threats and might not feel the need to bark,” she says.

     Bring him inside.  If your dog sleeps outside and likes to exercise his vocal cords at night, you may want to bring him indoors.  “He’ll have less to bark at,” say Dr. Hetts. 

     Try gentle pressure.  Many experts recommend trainer collars like the Promise System or the Gentle Leader.  Similar to halters worn by horses, the collars come with ten-foot leads.  When your dog starts barking, pulling the lead will gently press his mouth closed for the few seconds that you apply pressure.

“The beauty is you never have to scold your dog or even say anything to him,” says Robert K. Anderson, D.V.M., professor and director emeritus of the Animal Behavior Clinic at the University of Minnesota college of Veterinary Medicine in Minneapolis-St.Paul.  “The collar speaks for itself by stopping the behavior.

The collars are more humane and effective than choke collars, and some dogs will start barking less in as few as one or two training sessions, says Dr. Anderson.  The collars are available from veterinarians and animal trainers, who will make sure they fit correctly and will give instructions for their proper use.

     Try shock therapy.  Your veterinarian may recommend a specialized bark collar, which delivers either a high-frequency sound or a light shock whenever your dog barks.  Some collars go off immediately, while others allow the dog to bark a few times before kicking in.  “They can be extremely effective, but you really need to work with someone who can help you get a good collar and training,” says Dr. Hetts.  See your veterinarian for advice.

     Know when to switch strategies.  “People often don’t know when to it quits with a particular approach,” says Dr. Dodman.  “They’ll keep doing one thing for months even though it’s just not working.”  If you haven’t seen improvement within three to five days of using one anti-bark technique, try another one.