Barking
and Destruction
by David the Dogman
I
am often surprised at the number of owners that have barking and
destructive dogs. How do they manage to put up with all that the
noise for so long? Perhaps after a while, we manage to turn a
deaf ear to the racket the dog is making. In many instances, nothing
is done about the dog barking until a neighbour complains.
Most
neighbours will tolerate a great deal before actually confronting
you about the problem, so you can usually be sure that if your
neighbour is saying that the dog is barking a lot then the dog
really is barking excessively.
Do you live next door to a barking dog? Or are you that neighbour
from hell with the dog that barks all day and night?
Many
barking and destructive dogs are given the label ‘Separation
Anxiety’. Once a vet hears of this type of behaviour he
might prescribe the latest drug Clomicalm manufactured by Norvartis.
However this drug should only be used in combination with behavioural
therapy techniques, which very few vets are aware of.
Research
The
University of Warwick have recently carried out a survey into
the causes of separation anxiety to try to identify any common
factors. The survey showed almost seventy five per cent of vets
reported seeing up to five cases per month with the other twenty
five percent seeing more than this. That totals to one case every
single week for every vet in the country! Barking dogs are definitely
a problem!
Separation
disorder is rarely the reason that a pet dog owner will take the
dog to the vet, since most owners do not understand the problem.
One of the worrying aspects of the survey is that fifty seven
percent of owners stated they could not keep their pets because
of the barking or destruction.
Male
dogs between one and three years of age from the working or terrier
breeds were most prone to these problems. This does not mean that
you will never encounter barking or destruction if you have a
female collie aged 4!
The
survey has so far shown that in many cases, a change in family
life or the home led to the onset of barking and destruction.
Forty three per cent were due to a change in the owners working
hours, followed by twenty three per cent from house moving, a
new member of the family showed a nineteen per cent change, and
thirteen per cent from the death of a member of the family.
Of
course all surveys will produce different results. I personally
find that questions prepared by companies with a commercial interest
and asked by vets who know little if anything about triggers,
which cause behavioural problems, can be very misleading.
Analyse
with Video
As
a behaviourist I would be seeking other ways to analyse barking
and destructive behaviour to see if particular animals are suitable
for Clomicalm or any other drug. I would install a video camera
in the owner’s home to enable me to study the dog’s
behaviour when left on its own. This would enable me to study
the dog’s emotional state and decide whether the medication
may help and what type of behaviour therapy may be needed. All
too often the owner primes the dog before leaving the house. An
emotional farewell of "Don't worry, Mummy won't be long!"
will make the dog believe there is something to worry about. And
then a prolonged welcome and greeting could reinforce the separation
to the dog, further adding to the anxiety when next left alone.
New
Devices
There
are a number of new devices on the market to stop dogs barking
one being the Citronella squirting bark-activated collar. The
other known as the MasterPlus allows the release of an odourless
spray, which is controlled by the owner at a distance by remote
control.
Roger Mugford markets both products.
Peter
Neville recently wrote, that being punished for barking is not
he answer. In the case of the citronella-squirting collars, there
is an added disadvantage that even if the dog is quiet after getting
a nose full of unpleasant scent, that scent remains in his environment,
still punishing him when he is silent. The whole house becomes
associated with the possibility of being punished by these collars
and the dog may become even more disturbed by the prospect of
being left. Other dogs soon learn that they only need to stop
barking whilst they are wearing a certain collar - the one that
makes the nasty smell.
Here's
what to do
So,
what should you do if you own a barking dog? First of all, teach
the dog a "Shush!" command. This can be done quite easily
by allowing the dog two or three barks, then hold a piece of tasty
food under his nose - the dog will not be able to sniff and bark
at the same time. This gives you several seconds of quietness
that you can praise before allowing him to get the treat. Try
making a chart of when the dog barks. Most neighbours will be
happy to help out here! This could show that the dog starts to
bark when the post arrives - a remote post box may be all that
is needed to stop the barking. One dog I know of started to bark
when the central heating boiler fired up, about an hour before
the owners got home for the evening.
Whilst
your out of the house
It
is generally reckoned that most barking and destructive chewing
happens within half an hour of the dog being left alone. Think
of ways to entertain your dog for that critical half hour. Offering
a tasty bone, or Kong toy stuffed with something nice tasting,
just as you are about to leave the house will keep the dog amused
for some time.
Hiding dog biscuits around the house will keep many dogs happily
searching for hours.
But
most of all, cut out the dramatics! No big leaving or arriving
acts. Try to ignore the dog for at least 15 minutes before you
leave the house, and also ignore him for the same time when you
return home. Ignore means do no look at the dog, do not speak
to the dog and do not touch the dog. You could even try saying
"Hello" to all your houseplants before speaking to the
dog! And if you are living next door - offering help can be a
much better tactic than calling the cops!
Commitment,
Firmness, but kindness.
Do
you have any problems with your pet? Then why not send your problem
to DAVID THE DOGMAN. David is a Canine Behaviourist who works
and lives in Marbella, Spain.
Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located at: http://www.thedogman.net.
David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for many newspapers
and magazines. David has been working with dogs for many years
and started his career in Israel, working on the Border Police.
He has been involved in all forms of training, including air sea
rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding drugs.
David has devoted the past 10 years to studying behaviour and
the very passive approach. He does not use choke chains, check
chains, or any form of aggression.
David
The Dogman is available for private consultations in your home,
for further details telephone; Tel; (95) 2883388